The application of light-induced ligation protocols to prepare well-defined polymeric structures on the surface of nanodiamonds (NDs) is described. Light-triggered grafting-to strategies based on the photoenol Diels-Alder ligation are introduced for the preparation of polymer coated NDs. Additionally, the photochemical synthesis of fluorescent glycopolymer single-chain nanoparticles and their application for ND coatings is discussed.