Fluorescent nanodiamonds as biocompatible markers and sensors for simultaneous peptide delivery and bioimaging (C04)

• Subject Area: Biochemistry ; Biophysics
• Term: since 2017
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 316249678

Diamond nanocrystals are one of the most promising carbon nanomaterials for peptide delivery and imaging applications as they reveal stable and non-bleachable emissions and may be hyperpolarized for magnetic resonance imaging. Our project aims to employ fluorescent nanodiamond as a potential theranostic platform for peptide delivery allowing to monitor the delivery process as well as peptide-receptor interactions via high resolution florescence microscopy. Furthermore, the peptide-functionalized diamond transporters will allow monitoring local effects of bioactive peptides, such as temperature changes or cellular stress, in their respective environment with high resolution.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1279: Exploiting the Human Peptidome for Novel Antimicrobial and Anticancer Agents
• Applicant Institution: Universität Ulm
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Fedor Jelezko; Professorin Dr. Tanja Weil, since 7/2021; Dr. Yuzhou Wu, Ph.D., until 6/2021