Nanodiamonds carrying vitamins through the intestinal barrier.

Could Nanodiamonds Be the Key to Better Vitamin Absorption? The Future of Oral Supplements

Rhea Morgan in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"Scientists are exploring how nanodiamonds, combined with Vitamin E TPGS, can revolutionize drug and nutrient delivery, potentially making supplements more effective."

In the ever-evolving world of nutritional science, the quest for maximizing the effectiveness of supplements is ongoing. Many nutrients, despite their potential benefits, suffer from poor absorption rates in the body, limiting their impact on health. Traditional oral supplements often fall short due to factors like poor solubility and instability in the gastrointestinal tract.

Recent research has turned towards nanotechnology to tackle these challenges, with nanodiamonds emerging as a promising tool. These tiny carbon structures, known for their biocompatibility and unique surface properties, are being explored as carriers to improve the delivery of vitamins and other nutrients.

A compelling study published in the International Journal of Pharmaceutics investigates the interactions between curcumin-loaded Vitamin E TPGS-coated nanodiamonds and Caco-2 cell monolayers, mimicking the intestinal barrier. This research aims to unlock new possibilities for enhancing nutrient absorption and bioavailability, potentially transforming how we approach supplementation.

How Nanodiamonds Enhance Vitamin Absorption: The Science Explained

Nanodiamonds carrying vitamins through the intestinal barrier.

Nanodiamonds (NDs) are a novel class of carbon nanoparticles gaining traction in drug and nutrient delivery. Their appeal lies in several key characteristics: biocompatibility, a chemically inert core, and versatile surface properties that allow them to be easily modified with various molecules.

Researchers have found that coating nanodiamonds with Vitamin E TPGS (D-α-tocopherol polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate) can further enhance their ability to deliver nutrients effectively. The Vitamin E TPGS acts as a stabilizer and absorption enhancer, helping the nanodiamonds navigate the intestinal environment and facilitating nutrient uptake by cells.

Here’s a breakdown of the key findings from the study:

Enhanced Absorption: Nanodiamonds significantly improve the intestinal permeability of curcumin, a compound known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties but limited by poor absorption.
Cellular Uptake: Vitamin E TPGS-coated nanodiamonds are efficiently taken up by Caco-2 cells, a model for intestinal cells, indicating improved cellular absorption.
Biocompatibility: The nanodiamonds exhibited low toxicity, suggesting they are safe for oral delivery.
Targeted Delivery: The delivery mechanism involves energy-dependent endocytosis, where cells actively engulf the nanodiamonds.

The study highlights the potential of nanodiamonds to overcome the limitations of traditional oral supplements, paving the way for more effective nutrient delivery systems.

The Future of Supplements: What Nanodiamonds Could Mean for You

While still in the early stages of research, nanodiamonds hold tremendous potential for transforming the supplement industry. By improving the absorption and bioavailability of nutrients, these tiny carriers could lead to more effective and targeted health interventions. As research progresses, we may see nanodiamonds playing a key role in personalized nutrition, ensuring that individuals receive the maximum benefit from their supplements.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2018.09.030, Alternate LINK

Title: Investigations On The Interactions Between Curcumin Loaded Vitamin E Tpgs Coated Nanodiamond And Caco-2 Cell Monolayer

Subject: Pharmaceutical Science

Journal: International Journal of Pharmaceutics

Publisher: Elsevier BV

Authors: Dandan Liu, Bingchao Cheng, Dongyang Li, Jinyu Li, Qingyin Wu, Hao Pan

Published: 2018-11-01

Everything You Need To Know

What are nanodiamonds and why are they being considered for use in supplements?

Nanodiamonds (NDs) are tiny carbon nanoparticles with unique properties like biocompatibility and a chemically inert core. Their surfaces can be modified, making them suitable carriers for nutrients. Researchers are exploring them to improve the delivery of vitamins and other nutrients, potentially enhancing absorption and bioavailability, which are often limitations of traditional oral supplements.

How does Vitamin E TPGS enhance the effectiveness of nanodiamonds in nutrient delivery?

Vitamin E TPGS (D-α-tocopherol polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate) acts as a stabilizer and absorption enhancer when coating nanodiamonds. It helps the nanodiamonds navigate the intestinal environment and facilitates nutrient uptake by cells. This coating improves the intestinal permeability of nutrients like curcumin and ensures efficient cellular uptake while maintaining biocompatibility.

What is the significance of the Caco-2 cell monolayer study mentioned, and what does it reveal about nanodiamonds?

The study published in the International Journal of Pharmaceutics investigates the interactions between curcumin-loaded Vitamin E TPGS-coated nanodiamonds and Caco-2 cell monolayers, which mimic the intestinal barrier. This research shows that nanodiamonds significantly improve the intestinal permeability and cellular uptake of nutrients, while also demonstrating low toxicity. The study highlights that the delivery mechanism involves energy-dependent endocytosis, indicating that cells actively engulf the nanodiamonds, enhancing nutrient absorption.

What are the potential implications of using nanodiamonds for the future of personalized nutrition?

Using nanodiamonds in supplements could revolutionize personalized nutrition by improving the absorption and bioavailability of essential nutrients. This means individuals could receive more effective and targeted health interventions, ensuring they obtain the maximum benefit from their supplements. While still in the early stages of research, nanodiamonds pave the way for tailored supplement regimens that address specific nutritional needs more efficiently.

How do nanodiamonds overcome the limitations of traditional oral supplements, specifically regarding compounds like curcumin?

Traditional oral supplements often suffer from poor solubility and instability in the gastrointestinal tract, limiting the absorption of nutrients like curcumin. Nanodiamonds, especially when coated with Vitamin E TPGS, enhance the intestinal permeability and cellular uptake of such compounds. The Vitamin E TPGS acts as a stabilizer and absorption enhancer, which helps the nanodiamonds navigate the intestinal environment, facilitating better nutrient uptake by cells, thereby overcoming the limitations of traditional oral supplements.