Nanodiamond landmarks for subcellular multimodal optical and electron imaging.

Area of Science:

• Biophysics
• Nanotechnology
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Need for advanced biolabels compatible with multiple microscopy techniques.
• Limitations of current probes including cytotoxicity and photobleaching.
• Potential of nanodiamonds as versatile nanoscale imaging agents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a sub-cellular multi-modal imaging methodology.
• To demonstrate the localization of functionalized nanodiamonds.
• To enable correlated imaging across optical and electron microscopy.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing inert nanodiamonds with fluorescent nitrogen-vacancy centers.
• Functionalizing nanodiamonds for targeted localization of specific sub-cellular structures.
• Employing electron microscopy diffraction mode for high-resolution localization.
• Using optical microscopy for in-vitro tracking and uptake confirmation.

Main Results:

• Successful sub-cellular localization of targeted nanodiamonds.
• Demonstrated rapid localization in electron microscopy diffraction mode.
• Confirmed nanodiamond visibility and tracking via optical microscopy.
• Method validated down to the single nanodiamond level.

Conclusions:

• The developed methodology enables precise nanoscale imaging of sub-cellular structures.
• Nanodiamonds serve as effective, non-cytotoxic, and photostable multi-modal biolabels.
• This approach facilitates correlations between biomolecule delivery and function.
• Nanodiamonds offer potential for advanced applications in imaging, sensing, and delivery.