Fluorescent Nanodiamonds (FNDs): Advanced Nano scale Imaging and Sensing

• Fluorescent Nanodiamonds (FNDs) are Nano scale diamond particles composed of carbon atoms, exhibiting stable fluorescence properties. 
• Unlike traditional fluorophores, they are highly resistant to photobleaching and photoblinking, making them ideal for long-term imaging and sensing applications.

Key Properties of FNDs

• Fluorescence Mechanism: 
• FNDs emit light at a lower frequency when exposed to high-frequency radiation, a property known as fluorescence. 
• This is due to nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centres and other defects within the diamond structure.
• Photostability: 
• Unlike organic dyes or quantum dots, FNDs do not degrade under prolonged exposure to light.
• Biocompatibility: 
• FNDs are non-toxic and chemically stable, making them suitable for biomedical applications.
• High Chemical and Thermal Stability: 
• Their structure remains intact under extreme conditions, including high temperatures and harsh chemical environments.

Production Process

• FNDs are synthesized using high-temperature and high-pressure techniques, similar to natural diamond formation, or by methods such as detonation synthesis, chemical vapour deposition (CVD), and ion implantation. 
• These techniques introduce specific defect centres, enhancing their fluorescence properties.

Key Applications

Biomedical Imaging & Sensing

• High-resolution cellular and molecular imaging
• Single-molecule tracking in live-cell studies
• Fluorescence-based biosensing for disease detection

Microscale Temperature Sensing

• FNDs can act as Nano scale thermometers, detecting temperature variations at the cellular level with high precision.

Correlative Microscopy

• Used for multimodal imaging, combining fluorescence microscopy with electron or atomic force microscopy to study Nano scale biological processes.

Drug Delivery and Therapeutics

• FNDs serve as carriers for targeted drug delivery systems, ensuring controlled release and real-time tracking in biological environments.

Future Prospects

• With advancements in nanotechnology, FNDs are emerging as a powerful tool in quantum sensing, photonics, and optoelectronics. 
• Research continues to explore their potential in next-generation biosensors, targeted therapies, and advanced optical technologies.