Fluorescent nanodiamond (nitrogen vacancy ~3 ppm NV centers, 140 nm avg. part. size, amine-functionalized, powder), a biocompatible carbon-based nanomaterial, has interesting properties like excellent photostability, low toxic and facile surface functionalizability. It can be used for a variety of biological applications.

Nanodiamonds (NDs) containing NV color centers exhibit fluorescence in red/near infra-red (NIR) region. The fluorescence in NDs originates from nitrogen vacancies and, unlike quantum dots and organic dyes, NDs do not photobleach. Fluorescent NDs find applications in background-free imaging, flow cytometry, super-resolution imaging etc. Our aminated fluorescent nanodiamonds are well suited for conjugation with activated biomolecules.