Multifunctional nanodiamonds as emerging platforms for cancer treatment, and targeted delivery of genetic factors and protein medications—a review

• Published in: Journal of materials science Vol. 57; no. 17; pp. 8064 - 8099
• Main Authors: Mumtaz, Mehvish, Hussain, Nazim, Salam, Sidra, Bilal, Muhammad
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.05.2022; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biocompatibility; Biological products; Biomedical engineering; Biomedical materials; Cancer; Cancer therapies; Carrying capacity; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Classical Mechanics; Conjugation; Crystallography and Scattering Methods; Diamonds; Drug delivery systems; Drugs; Genetic research; Health services; Materials Science; Medical imaging; Nanostructure; Nucleic acids; Polymer Sciences; Production costs; Proteins; Review; Safety; Solid Mechanics; Surface properties
• ISSN: 0022-2461; 1573-4803
• DOI: 10.1007/s10853-022-07168-x

Over the last fifty years, research into the development, characterization, and applications of non-traditional drug or diagnostic molecular delivery systems has expanded. Researchers can use delivery systems to address three major issues in drug or diagnostic molecule release including unfavorable pharmacokinetics and bio-distribution, early drug breakdown in the bloodstream by the reticule-endothelial system, and ineffectual uptake at the target sites, which can cause less drug or imaging agent efficacy in cells. In this context, nanocarriers containing medication or imaging agents provide a unique delivery approach that offers several advantages, including carrying capacity protection and improved drug quantity distribution to target regions. Small molecules, certain peptide-based therapies, some proteins of the cell, vaccines, and nucleic acids, among other biopharmaceuticals, continue to face substantial challenges in terms of guaranteeing safe and effective intracellular targeting. Smart dosage forms improve the efficacy and safety of a drug by delivering it to a specified target at a specific time. Nanodiamonds appear to play a possible alternative for use in the medical field due to their minute particle size (in the range of 2–8 nm), purity, exceptional qualities, their facile surface working (which allows bio-conjugation), good biocompatibility, and low cost of large-scale manufacture. The creation of physiologically accessible functionalized nanodiamonds provides a safe and effective platform for administering therapeutic drugs. Properties of nanodiamonds to maintain the safety and effectiveness of chained medicinal substances, such as aggregation state, surface composition, impurity presence, and localization and deposition behavior within the body, must be managed. Before using a clinical method can be devised, the biocompatibility, the distribution in the body, and the biological fate of nanodiamond and its compounds must all be explored. To help increase nanodiamonds manufacturing volumes, a focus on lowering production costs and getting more grip to maintain their shape, structure, size, and surface properties should be prioritized. The range of potential activity for NDs will likely spur more research in this area. This review provides a comprehensive discussion on nanodiamonds for biomedical applications, including cancer treatment, delivery of genetic factors, and protein medication. In addition to toxicological issues limiting their ability to work safely, future directions and problems in engineering, medicine, and biotechnology research for NDs are also outlined.