Nanodiamonds (NDs) have many potential applications, but their development is dependent on obtaining a well-defined surface through cleaning. Several purification methods, such as the promising air oxidation together with centrifugation, have been developed to remove the surface-adsorbed impurities on NDs. These stochastic impurities mainly consist of both ultrasmall NDs and nondiamond structures (e.g., disordered carbons), which are unavoidably generated during the synthesis and processing of diamond materials. However, it is difficult to eliminate these unwanted parts using existing methods, which restrict the widespread usage of NDs. Here, we developed a simple, reliable, and reproducible purification method, namely, the salt-assisted air oxidation treatment, requiring only one additional prestep, that is, mixing NDs with a proper amount of salt crystals (e.g., sodium chloride) prior to conventional oxidation. The developed method enables scale-up manufacturing of clean NDs, with a rounded shape transformed from the original shard-like shape. Furthermore, we uncovered the exact role of salt crystals in eliminating impurities during oxidation. These findings will significantly enhance the scope of these little gemstones in diverse scientific and industrial fields, particularly in demanding areas such as biomedical and quantum sensing requiring stable and sound surface functionalities.

Cobalt (CoII) ions have been an attractive candidate for the biomedical modification of orthopedic implants for decades. However, limited research has been performed into how immobilized CoII ions affect the physical properties of implant devices and how these changes regulate cellular behavior. In this study we modified biocompatible poly(vinyl alcohol) with terpyridine and catechol groups (PVA‐TP‐CA) to create a stable surface coating in which bioactive metal ions could be anchored, endowing the coating with improved broad‐spectrum antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, as well as enhanced surface stiffness and cellular mechanoresponse manipulation. Strengthened by the addition of these metal ions, the coating elicited enhanced mechanosensing from adjacent cells, facilitating cell adhesion, spreading, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation on the surface coating. This dual‐functional PVA‐TP‐CA/Co surface coating offers a promising approach for improving clinical implantation outcomes.

Cobalt (CoII) ions have been an attractive candidate for the biomedical modification of orthopedic implants for decades. However, limited research has been performed into how immobilized CoII ions affect the physical properties of implant devices and how these changes regulate cellular behavior. In this study we modified biocompatible poly(vinyl alcohol) with terpyridine and catechol groups (PVA‐TP‐CA) to create a stable surface coating in which bioactive metal ions could be anchored, endowing the coating with improved broad‐spectrum antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, as well as enhanced surface stiffness and cellular mechanoresponse manipulation. Strengthened by the addition of these metal ions, the coating elicited enhanced mechanosensing from adjacent cells, facilitating cell adhesion, spreading, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation on the surface coating. This dual‐functional PVA‐TP‐CA/Co surface coating offers a promising approach for improving clinical implantation outcomes.

No abstract