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May 22nd, 2009

Abstract:
Researchers in the US have created a 'fountain pen' probe that can pattern nanodiamonds at high resolution and inject them into single cells. The probe could be used as a research and development tool for creating nanodiamond devices and exploring the effect of single cells carrying medical drugs.

Nanodiamonds have several unique properties that make them attractive in biomedicine: they have a high surface area for their volume, they are bio-compatible, and - although no-one is quite sure how - they are able to steadily release drugs that have been attached to them.

However, scientists have found it challenging to control the placement of nanodiamonds precisely, which is crucial for creating nanodiamond-based devices or for injecting nanodiamonds into cells. There has been some success by adopting techniques similar to ink-jet printing, but even the best resolution offered by these, which is in the order of 100痠, is not fine enough.

Source:
rsc.org

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