Tritium labeling was introduced into detonation nanodiamonds (ND) through the tritium thermal activation method. Two target preparation techniques were developed to increase the radioactivity and the specific radioactivity of the labeled product: the desiccation of the waterless solvent suspension and the lyophilization of the hydrosol. The specific radioactivity of the labeled product was shown to correlate with the hydrogen content in the starting material and to achieve 2.6 TBq/g.

The results of studies of the structure of chemically modified detonation-synthesized nanodiamond (ND) particles by a set of physical and chemical methods are reported. It is shown that the crystal structure, size, and the paramagnetic properties of the particles persist during chemical modification processes. No nondiamond sp ² carbon is observed in the composition of the particles. The first experimental evidence for the uniform distribution of nitrogen impurities in the detonation-synthesized nanodiamond particles is presented.

Analysis of published and author’s own experimental data provides convincing evidence for the theoretical possibility to create drug delivery systems on the basis of detonation nanodiamonds and for the promise such systems hold for commercialization and practical application.