Endocytic nanodiamond for the labeling and tracking of cancer cells

Nanodiamond (ND) is carbon nanomaterial developing for biological applications. We found that ND particles were taken into cells by macropinocytosis and clathrin-mediated endocytosis pathways. ND particles were equal separating into two daughter cells of cell division approximately. Finally, the cell retained a single ND cluster in cytoplasm after sub-cultured for several generations. Interestingly, ND clusters were carried inside of cell but without inducing damages after long-term cell culture. Together, these findings provide that endocytic ND particles are non-cytotoxic in cell division, which can be applied for the labeling and tracking of cancer cells.