Here we present the results of investigation intended to check the possibility of use nanodiamonds as reinforcing filler in thermoplastics for 3D-printing. To do that we produced filaments from Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) and from ABS modified with nanodiamonds (ABS-ND) by extrusion and compared the features of manufacturing process and mechanical properties of produced filaments.ABS was chosen for this experiment as a common thermoplastic polymer widely used in machinery, electronics, household and medical appliances and construction. At last time ABS has become the main material for rapid prototyping by extrusion-based 3D printers. Currently the wide use of this technology is restricted by the high cost of filaments mainly caused by a low productivity of their manufacturing process by extrusion. Therefore, the improvement of functional characteristics of ABS, increase in the productivity of the process and reducing manufacturing costs is an actual issue for material engineering.It was found that ABS modification with 0.05 wt.% specially functionalized nanodiamonds has resulted in significant decrease in extrusion friction enabling to enhance the productivity of filament manufacturing by minimum 50 %; herewith, rotation force reduced by 24 % which can lead to energy saving and prolonged durability of tools.
Use nanodiamond additive in amount of 0.05 wt.% enhanced tensile strength and load of break of ABS by ≈ 14.5 % while stiffness and elastic modulus increased by 22.5 %; wherein, filament prolongation at break reduced by 94 %.It is expected, that ABS modification by nanodiamonds performed during ABS pellets manufacturing will result in much higher homogeneity of nanodiamond distribution in polymer and better improvement of mechanical and thermal properties.The company is looking for partners interested in the development of nanodiamond additive to thermoplastics and implementation of nanodiamond technology in 3D printing. The potential market is huge. If only 1 % of currently produced ABS will be modified with 0.05 wt. % of nanodiamonds, 50 ton nanodiamonds annually is required for this application, amount highly increasing current nanodiamond powder Global Market.

Poster: Nanodiamond additives for 3D printing

Recently nanodiamond (ND) bio-applications are widely discussed and developed due to ND’s physical-chemical properties (surface, structure, spectroscopic) and bio-compatibility [1], convenient particularly, for drug and gene delivery [2], for bio-imaging [1], delivery tracing [3], sensing and biological processes visualization [4], etc. Using ND helps in solving the problems of targeted drug delivery, utilizing the possibilities of multifunctional surface modification [5]; pH-dependent release, regulating Cl- ion concentration [6], etc. On the other hand, among the physical methods to control delivery of nanoparticles magnetic methods are developed and look highly promising [7].New developed particles of magnetic-modified ND (RayND-M) join advantages of ND and magnetic nanoparticles. In this work we characterize and analyze the RayND-M properties and discuss perspectives of their targeted delivery in biological system for bio-applications.
The particles morphology and size were analyzed using SEM imaging, and measurements by Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) method and aggregation has been estimated; the particles composition and structure have been revealed by Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) and Raman spectroscopy. Surface properties and their suitability for conjugation with molecules of interests were studied using infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR) and -potential measurements by DLS method. Fluorescence spectra of the RayND-M have been measured using excitations with CW lasers with wavelengths 488, 532 and pulse laser with excitation wavelength 800 nm. Well-detectable signal has been observed both at one-photon and two-photon excitation, as well as at analysis of the RayND-M fluorescence lifetime. The origins of fluorescence in RayND-M are discussed. Together with observation of RayND-M low cytotoxicity these properties make these particles promising for imaging applications with wide variety of excitation and detection conditions.
Magnetic properties and motility of RayND-M in non-homogenious magnetic field are discussed from point of view of controllable transport in biological object. Additionally, other possibilities to utilize magnetism of the diamond nanoparticles in the biological studies and theranostic purposes are considered.

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2. X. Wang, X. C. Low, W. Hou, L. N. Abdullah, T. B. Toh, M. M. Abdul Rashid, D. Ho, E. Kai-H. Chow. ACS Nano, 8(12), 12151 (2014)
3. Y. Wu, Y. K. Tzeng, W. W. Chang, C. A. Cheng, Y. Kuo, C.H. Chien, H.C. Chang, J. Yu. Nat. Nanotechnol. 8, 682–689 (2013)
4. J. Tisler, R. Reuter, A. Laemmle, F. Jelezko, G. Balasubramanian, P. R. Hemmer, F. Reinhard, J. Wrachtrup. ASC Nano, 5, 7893-7898 (2011)
5. T. Meinhardt, D. Lang, H. Dill, A. Krueger. Adv. Funct. Mater. 21, 494–500 (2011)
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7. J. Chomoucka, J. Drbohlavova, D. Huska, V. Adam, R. Kizek, J. Hubalek. Pharmacological Research 62(2), 144–149 (2010)

Poster: Magnetic nanodiamonds for drug delivery