Surface functionalisation of detonation diamond suitable for biological applications

Detonation diamond is a promising material for biological applications due to its biocompatibility and fluorescence from lattice defects. Here we report on the organic functionalisation method for small detonation diamond agglomerates. After surface homogenisation by reduction and grafting of a silane linker, amino acids have been coupled to the diamond surface and the formation of a small peptide has been achieved. These novel functionalised diamond materials are potentially useful for the synthesis of surface-bound peptides and for the attachment of biologically active building blocks, which could be used in drug delivery and fluorescence marker applications.