01 / INORGANIC NANOPARTICLES

Different cores.
Reactive surfaces.

Diamond and magnetite nano- and microparticles, with surface chemistry designed to connect materials to molecules.

Diamond Magnetite Surface chemistry Microscopy

01 / DIAMOND

From nanometres
to micrometres.

Wet chemistry creates a uniform diamond surface, which is then transformed into a reactive surface for molecular coupling.

Surface-activated diamond

Diamond particles are available in sizes from 4 nm to more than 100 µm. NV diamond is also available in a more restricted range of sizes.

The reactive surface can be coupled to thiol, amino and hydroxy functionalities, including those on DNA, RNA, proteins and small molecules.

Ask about sizes and specifications ↗

Particle size: 4 nm to >100 µm
Surface: Uniform, then reactive
NV diamond: Restricted size range
Scientific contact: Dr. Michael Hinz

02 / MAGNETITE

A magnetic core.
A versatile shell.

Superparamagnetic magnetite core–shell particles combine a magnetic core with a silica or dextran outer layer.

SILICA / MAGNETITE

Versatile surface chemistry

Silica-coated particles, typically a few hundred nanometres in size, can be prepared with different surface groups, including our reactive surface.

Core: Superparamagnetic magnetite
Shell: Silica
Surface options: Various groups / reactive surface

DEXTRAN / MAGNETITE

A polysaccharide shell

Dextran-coated particles have a hydrodynamic diameter of approximately 60 nm. Their surface chemistry centres on hydroxy groups or a reactive surface.

Hydrodynamic diameter: Approx. 60 nm
Shell: Dextran
Surface options: Hydroxy / reactive surface

Silica/magnetite core–shell particles: electron microscopy, scale bars and experimental data from the supplied TSH figure. — Silica/magnetite core–shell particles · Electron microscopy. Full supplied figure, including annotations and scale bars.

Preparation of dextran/magnetite core–shell particles using a magnetic stirrer bar. — Preparing dextran/magnetite core–shell particles using a magnetic stirrer bar.

03 / SURFACE CHEMISTRY

The molecule makes
the connection.

A reactive surface without leaving groups, with coupling conditions matched to the functional group.

—SH

Thiol groups

Room temperature.
Water or near-neutral buffer.

—NH₂

Amino groups

Room temperature.
Water or near-neutral buffer.

—OH

Hydroxy groups

Elevated temperature.
Aprotic solvents.

Wet-chemistry reaction scheme for producing a uniform diamond surface. — Wet chemistry for a uniform diamond surface · Original reaction scheme supplied by TSH.

04 / RESEARCH IN FOCUS

See the particles.
Follow the signal.

Original microscopy from TSH. Each view retains its own image and description.

Fluorescence microscopy of miRNA146 detection in viable inflammatory macrophages using diamond nanoparticles.

miRNA146 detection in viable inflammatory macrophages · Fluorescence microscopy.

DIAMOND / CELLULAR INTERACTIONS

Particle chemistry.
Cellular questions.

Diamond nanoparticles are used to detect miRNA146 in viable inflammatory macrophages by release of a Cy3-labelled oligonucleotide. The fluorescence and transmitted-light views illustrate this research example.

A second image pair shows macrophages that have taken up large amounts of nanodiamonds. The particles are visualised in reflection mode, alongside a transmitted-light view.

These images document supplied research examples. They are not clinical efficacy evidence.