Nanodiamond bullets and their biological targets

The potential of nanodiamond bullets for use in ballistic delivery of biologically active molecules was investigated. Detonation nanodiamond particles were coated with DNA, synthetic ethylene precursor, or ethylene antagonist or were labeled with fluorescent dyes and delivered into bacteria, yeast, insect cells, and plant tissues with the help of a Bio-Rad particle delivery system PDS-1000/He. Detonation nanodiamonds are both mechanically and chemically stable and can be used as DNA carriers for biolistic transformation of cells and in delivery of biologically active molecules.