A review of recent advances in nanodiamond-mediated drug delivery in cancer

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Nanodiamond (ND) refers to diamond particles with sizes from few to near 100 nanometers. For its superb physical, chemical and spectroscopic properties, it has been proposed and studied with the aims for bio imaging and drug delivery. Many modalities on conjugating drug molecules on ND to form ND-X for more efficient drug delivery have been demonstrated in the cellular and animal models.

Area covered

Many novel drug delivery approaches utilizing nanodiamond as a platform have been demonstrated recently. This review summarizes recent developments on the nanodiamond facilitated drug delivery, from the ND-X complexes preparations to tests in the cellular and animal models. The outlook on clinical translation is discussed.

Expert opinion

Nanodiamond and drug complexes (ND-X) produced from different methods are realized for drug delivery; almost all studies reported ND-X being more efficient compared to pure drug alone. However, ND of particle size less than 10 nm are found more toxic due to size and surface structure, and strongly aggregate. In vivo studies demonstrate ND accumulation in animal organs and no confirmed long-term effect studies on their release from organs are available. Standardized nanodiamond materials and drug delivery approaches are needed to advance the applications to the clinical level.

KEYWORDS:

• Nanodiamond
• drug Delivery
• bio Imaging
• conjugation
• complexes
• cancer
• spectroscopy
• Raman Spectroscopy

Article highlights

• The aggregation of nanodiamond particles and well-dispersed nanodiamond for bio/medical applications.

• Studies on various animal models on biodistribution of ND inside animal body and its fate in organs in the long run.

• Controlled drug delivery via ND-mediated, pH-sensitive delivery in animal models.

• Methods of nanodiamond conjugation with drug through covalent bonding or physical adsorption for delivery to maximize the efficacy and minimize the side effects of anticancer drugs.

• Recently advances in ND-drug targeting different cancers in animal models. Results found drug delivered to the target sites are more efficient and drug retention in tumors are longer as compared to the pure drug. Promising for clinical translation.

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Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.