Nanodiamonds, the next imaging materials in MRI Systems

Nanodiamonds—tiny synthetic diamonds just a few nanometers in size—are gaining significant attention for their potential in medicine.

Recently, U.S. medical researchers developed a method to non-invasively track nanodiamonds using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), unlocking new possibilities for their use. This breakthrough could make nanodiamonds valuable for targeted delivery of vaccines, anti-cancer drugs, and more.

The researchers utilized the Overhauser effect to enhance MRI imaging with nanodiamonds. By applying hyperpolarization, they were able to strengthen the diamonds' naturally weak magnetic resonance signal. This process aligns the atomic nuclei within the nanodiamonds, producing a detectable signal in an MRI scanner.