Fluorescent
nanodiamonds (NDs) have a range of unique properties which make them highly
desirable for bioimaging and biosensing applications. Their fluorescence
is produced via optical excitation of atomic defects, such as the negatively
charged nitrogen vacancy centre, within the diamond crystal
lattice. Possessing long-wavelength emission, high brightness, no
photobleaching, no photoblinking, single photon emission at room temperature,
nanometer size, biocompatibility, and an exceptional resistance to chemical
degradation make NDs almost the ideal fluorescent bioimaging nanoprobe. I
will discuss these exciting properties in detail and also give some examples of
their integration with photonic materials for future hybrid ND-biophotonic
applications. In addition, I will discuss details of our custom
confocal fluorescence microscopes and also show some examples of bio-images
which have been captured on the systems.