Study of Incinerated Nanodiamonds and Their Effect on Microglial Cells

Incinerated precious stones such as diamond (InDia) are used in the Indian system of medicines to treat various diseases. More recently, they are used for treating tuberculosis and cancer related conditions. For the first time, we have performed the physico-chemical analysis and cell interaction studies for InDia. The hydrodynamic diameter of particles was found to be ~500 nm. The XRD pattern shows the crystalline nature of the material, with strong peaks at 2θ values of 43.77, 75.23 and 91.45, respectively. The hyperspectral-dark-field image shows the aggregation of the InDia particles inside the BV2 cells (microglial cells) and a change in the spectral profile with the particle's position within the cell. Our preliminary results suggest that, InDia particles are readily taken up by the BV2 cells and affect the cell's motility, without affecting their viability.