Designing the nanobiointerface of fluorescent nanodiamonds: highly selective targeting of glioma cancer cells

Abstract

Core–shell nanoparticles based on fluorescent nanodiamonds coated with a biocompatible N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide copolymer shell were developed for background-free near-infrared imaging of cancer cells. The particles showed excellent colloidal stability in buffers and culture media. After conjugation with a cyclic RGD peptide they selectively targeted integrin α_vβ₃ receptors on glioblastoma cells with high internalization efficacy.