Functionalized nanodiamond platforms for applications in systemic and localized drug elution

Nanodiamond materials can be engineered for a broad range of applications in medicine. This presentation will highlight the relevance of these materials as foundations for device fabrication across the spectrum of biology and technology. We have applied diamond-based nanomaterials toward controlled and localized drug delivery for applications in anti-inflammation to protect against implant rejection, and chemotherapy to enhance treatment efficacy by preventing generalized drug elution. Serving as platform materials, the nanodiamond hydrogels have enabled dramatic inhibition of the expression of multiple inflammation genes in vitro, and were capable of slowly eluting a potent chemotherapeutic in a slow release fashion via drug sequestering behavior. Furthermore, in vivo studies using additional nanomaterial interfaces demonstrated material-enabled implant cloaking which is envisioned to significantly impact the chronicity of implant functionality. We also interrogated the cytoregulatory networks via cytokine expression levels (IL-6, TNFα, iNOS) via quantitative PCR and found that the nanodiamonds interface well with their surrounding biological environment at a genetic level. Monitoring of internal cellular processes as well as cytokine release at the tissue-nanomaterial interface revealed the absence of basal cellular inflammatory responses for nanodiamonds, elucidating their enormous potential as translational therapeutic release systems.