High-precision chemical quantum sensing in flowing monodisperse microdroplets.

A method is presented for high-precision chemical detection that integrates quantum sensing with droplet microfluidics. Using nanodiamonds (ND) with fluorescent nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers as quantum sensors, rapidly flowing microdroplets containing analyte molecules are analyzed. A noise-suppressed mode of optically detected magnetic resonance is enabled by pairing controllable flow with microwave control of NV electronic spins, to detect analyte-induced signals of a few hundredths of a percent of the ND fluorescence.

Optical and electronic spin properties of fluorescent micro- and nanodiamonds upon prolonged ultrahigh-temperature annealing.

High-temperature annealing is a promising but still mainly unexplored method for enhancing spin properties of negatively charged nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond particles. After high-energy irradiation, the formation of NV centers in diamond particles is typically accomplished via annealing at temperatures in the range of 800-900 °C for 1-2 h to promote vacancy diffusion. Here, we investigate the effects of conventional annealing (900 °C for 2 h) against annealing at a much higher temperature of 1600 °C for the same annealing duration for particles ranging in size from 100 nm to 15 m using electron paramagnetic resonance and optical characterization.

Clot Imaging Using Photostable Nanodiamond.

While thrombosis is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States, an understanding of its triggers, progression, and response to anticoagulant therapy is lacking. Intravital fluorescence microscopy has advanced the study of thrombus formation by providing targeted, multi-color contrast. However, photodegradation of fluorophores limits the application in longitudinal studies (e.

Pharmacodynamic Studies of Fluorescent Diamond Carriers of Doxorubicin in Liver Cancer Cells and Colorectal Cancer Organoids.

Background: We recently reported on preferential deposition of bare fluorescent diamond particles FDP-NV-700/800nm (FDP-NV) in the liver following intravenous administration to rats. The pharmacokinetics of FDP-NV in that species indicated short residency in the circulation by rapid clearance by the liver. Retention of FDP-NV in the liver was not associated with any pathology.

Explosive Fragmentation of Luminescent Diamond Particles.

Development of efficient and cost-effective mass-production techniques for size reduction of high- pressure, high-temperature (HPHT) diamonds with sizes from tens to hundreds of micrometers remains one of the primary goals towards commercial production of fluorescent submicron and nanodiamond (fND). fNDs offer great advantages for many applications, especially in labelling, tracing, and biomedical imaging, owing to their brightness, exceptional photostability, mechanical robustness and intrinsic biocompatibility. This study proposes a novel processing method utilizing explosive fragmentation that can potentially be used for the fabrication of submicron to nanoscale size fluorescent diamond particles.

A Perspective on Fluorescent Nanodiamond Bioimaging.

The field of fluorescent nanodiamonds (FNDs) has advanced greatly over the past few years. Though historically limited primarily to red fluorescence, the wavelengths available for nanodiamonds have increased due to continuous technical advancement. This Review summarizes the strides made in the synthesis, functionalization, and application of FNDs to bioimaging.

The effect of particle size on nanodiamond fluorescence and colloidal properties in biological media.

Fluorescent nanodiamonds (FNDs) are extremely photostable markers and nanoscale sensors, which are increasingly used in biomedical applications. Nanoparticle size is a critical parameter in the majority of these applications. Yet, the effect of particle size on FND's fluorescence and colloidal properties is not well understood today.

Brilliant blue, green, yellow, and red fluorescent diamond particles: synthesis, characterization, and multiplex imaging demonstrations.

Until recently, the number of emission colors available from fluorescent diamond particles was primarily limited to red to near-infrared fluorescence from the nitrogen-vacancy color center in type Ib synthetic diamond and green fluorescence associated with the nitrogen-vacancy-nitrogen center in type Ia natural diamond. Using our recently reported rapid thermal annealing technique, we demonstrate the capability of producing fluorescent diamond particles that exhibit distinctive blue, green, yellow, and red fluorescence from the same synthetic diamond starting material. Utilizing these multiple colored diamonds, we analyze their fluorescence characteristics both in-solution as well as on-substrate and additionally evaluate their viability in simple multiplex imaging and cellular bioimaging experiments.

Review Article: Synthesis, properties, and applications of fluorescent diamond particles.

Diamond particles containing color centers-fluorescent crystallographic defects embedded within the diamond lattice-outperform other classes of fluorophores by providing a combination of unmatched photostability, intriguing coupled magneto-optical properties, intrinsic biocompatibility, and outstanding mechanical and chemical robustness. This exceptional combination of properties positions fluorescent diamond particles as unique fluorophores with emerging applications in a variety of fields, including bioimaging, ultrasensitive metrology at the nanoscale, fluorescent tags in industrial applications, and even potentially as magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents. However, production of fluorescent nanodiamond (FND) is nontrivial, since it requires irradiation with high-energy particles to displace carbon atoms and create vacancies-a primary constituent in the majority color centers.

Discovery and Elucidation of Counteranion Dependence in Photoredox Catalysis.

Over the past decade, there has been a renewed interest in the use of transition metal polypyridyl complexes as photoredox catalysts for a variety of innovative synthetic applications. Many derivatives of these complexes are known, and the effect of ligand modifications on their efficacy as photoredox catalysts has been the subject of extensive, systematic investigation. However, the influence of the photocatalyst counteranion has received little attention, despite the fact that these complexes are generally cationic in nature.

Targeting Fluorescent Nanodiamonds to Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptors in Tumor.

The increased expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors is associated with angiogenesis in a growing tumor, presenting potential targets for tumor-selective imaging by way of targeted tracers. Though fluorescent tracers are used for targeted in vivo imaging, the lack of photostability and biocompatibility of many current fluorophores hinder their use in several applications involving long-term, continuous imaging. To address these problems, fluorescent nanodiamonds (FNDs), which exhibit infinite photostability and excellent biocompatibility, were explored as fluorophores in tracers for targeting VEGF receptors in growing tumors.

Size dependent oxidative stress response of the gut of Daphnia magna to functionalized nanodiamond particles.

Nanodiamonds are a type of engineered nanomaterial with high surface area that is highly tunable and are being proposed for use as a material for medical imaging or drug delivery to composites. With their potential for widespread use they may potentially be released into the aquatic environment as are many chemicals used for these purposes. It is generally thought that nanodiamonds are innocuous, but toxicity may occur due to surface functionalization.

Fluorescent single-digit detonation nanodiamond for biomedical applications.

Detonation nanodiamonds (DNDs) have emerged as promising candidates for a variety of biomedical applications, thanks to different physicochemical and biological properties, such as small size and reactive surfaces. In this study, we propose carbon dot decorated single digit (4-5 nm diameter) primary particles of detonation nanodiamond as promising fluorescent probes. Due to their intrinsic fluorescence originating from tiny (1-2 atomic layer thickness) carbonaceous structures on their surfaces, they exhibit brightness suitable for in vitro imaging.

Quantification of Free Polyelectrolytes Present in Colloidal Suspension, Revealing a Source of Toxic Responses for Polyelectrolyte-Wrapped Gold Nanoparticles.

Polyelectrolyte (PE) wrapping of colloidal nanoparticles (NPs) is a standard method to control NP surface chemistry and charge. Because excess polyelectrolytes are usually employed in the surface modification process, it is critical to evaluate different purification strategies to obtain a clean final product and thus avoid ambiguities in the source of effects on biological systems. In this work, 4 nm diameter gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were wrapped with 15 kDa poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH), and three purification strategies were applied: (a) diafiltration or either (b) one round or (c) two rounds of centrifugation.

Impacts of gold nanoparticle charge and ligand type on surface binding and toxicity to Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria.

Although nanomaterials facilitate significant technological advancement in our society, their potential impacts on the environment are yet to be fully understood. In this study, two environmentally relevant bacteria, and , have been used as model organisms to elucidate the molecular interactions between these bacterial classes and Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) with well-controlled and well-characterized surface chemistries: anionic 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA), cationic 3-mercaptopropylamine (MPNH), and the cationic polyelectrolyte poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH). The data demonstrate that cationic, especially polyelectrolyte-wrapped AuNPs, were more toxic to both the Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria.

Effects of charge and surface ligand properties of nanoparticles on oxidative stress and gene expression within the gut of Daphnia magna.

Concern has been raised regarding the current and future release of engineered nanomaterials into aquatic environments from industry and other sources. However, not all nanomaterials may cause an environmental impact and identifying which nanomaterials may be of greatest concern has been difficult. It is thought that the surface groups of a functionalized nanoparticles (NPs) may play a significant role in determining their interactions with aquatic organisms, but the way in which surface properties of NPs impact their toxicity in whole organisms has been minimally explored.

Quantitative determination of ligand densities on nanomaterials by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) is a nearly universal method for quantitative characterization of both organic and inorganic layers on surfaces. When applied to nanoparticles, the analysis is complicated by the strong curvature of the surface and by the fact that the electron attenuation length can be comparable to the diameter of the nanoparticles, making it necessary to explicitly include the shape of the nanoparticle to achieve quantitative analysis. We describe a combined experimental and computational analysis of XPS data for molecular ligands on gold nanoparticles.

Facile method to stain the bacterial cell surface for super-resolution fluorescence microscopy.

A method to fluorescently stain the surfaces of both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial cells compatible with super-resolution fluorescence microscopy is presented. This method utilizes a commercially-available fluorescent probe to label primary amines at the surface of the cell. We demonstrate efficient staining of two bacterial strains, the Gram-negative Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 and the Gram-positive Bacillus subtilis 168.

A citric acid-derived ligand for modular functionalization of metal oxide surfaces via "click" chemistry.

Citric acid is a widely used surface-modifying ligand for growth and processing of a variety of nanoparticles; however, the inability to easily prepare derivatives of this molecule has restricted the development of versatile chemistries for nanoparticle surface functionalization. Here, we report the design and synthesis of a citric acid derivative bearing an alkyne group and demonstrate that this molecule provides the ability to achieve stable, multidentate carboxylate binding to metal oxide nanoparticles, while also enabling subsequent multistep chemistry via the Cu(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) reaction. The broad utility of this strategy for the modular functionalization of metal oxide surfaces was demonstrated by its application in the CuAAC modification of ZnO, Fe(2)O(3), TiO(2), and WO(3) nanoparticles.