Nanodiamonds: Synthesis, properties, and applications in nanomedicine

[Display omitted] •The synthetic routes and functionalization of nanodiamonds (NDs) were introduced.•The recent progress of NDs in nanomedical applications, including bioimaging, drug delivery and biosensing, was summarized.•The outlook towards the future developments and applications of NDs was provided. Nanodiamonds (NDs) have excellent mechanical and optical properties, large surface area, easy bioconjugation and high biocompatibility, which makes them especially appealing for various potential applications. In recent years, NDs have received considerable attention in nanomedicine, and some noteworthy progress has been achieved. This review summarizes the synthetic routes and unique properties of NDs. In addition, the recent progress of NDs in nanomedical applications, including bioimaging, drug delivery and biosensing, is also discussed. We further provide an outlook towards the future developments and applications of NDs.