LAUSR

Fluorescent nanodiamonds are biocompatible fluorescent particles with indefinite photo-stability that make them superior in vitro and in vivo imaging probes for a wide range of applications. Fluorescence arises from specific defect centers within the nanodiamond lattice, which permits the generation of fluorescent nanodiamonds with different emission wavelengths, or combinations of emission wavelengths. The negatively charged nitrogen-vacancy (NV−) center is a defect in the diamond lattice consisting of a substitutional nitrogen and a lattice vacancy that form a nearest-neighbor pair. NV− centers are fluorescent sources with remarkable optical properties including quantum efficiency near unity, indefinite photo-stability, i.e., no photo-bleaching or blinking, broad excitation spectra, and exquisitely sensitive magnetic field-dependent fluorescence emission. In particular, their near infrared fluorescence makes them ideally suited for in vivo imaging. However, producing, functionalizing, and characterizing small bright FNDs for biomedical applications remains challenging. We have developed multiple biocompatible functionalization schemes that permit the stabilization and specific labeling of fluorescent nanodiamonds. I will illustrate the unique features and potential uses of FNDs including high resolution three dimensional single-molecule imaging, in vivo background-free imaging through magnetic modulation of FND emission, and as superior fiducial markers for super-resolution microscopies.