Fenton-Treated Functionalized Diamond Nanoparticles as Gene Delivery System

When raw diamond nanoparticles (Drip, 7 nm average particle size) obtained from detonation are submitted to harsh Fenton-treatment, the resulting material becomes free of amorphous soot matter and the process maintains the crystallinity,,reduces the particle size (4 nm average panicle size), increases the surface OH population, and increases water solubility. All these changes are beneficial for subsequent Drip covalent functionalization and for the ability of Drip to cross cell membranes. Fenton-treated Drips have been functionalized with thionine and the resulting sample has been observed in HeLa cell nuclei. A triethylammonium-functionalized Drip pairs electrostatically with a plasmid having-the green fluorescent protein gene and acts as gene delivery system permitting the plasmid to cross HeLa cell membrane, something that does not occur for the plasmid alone without assistance of polycationic Drip.