Descripción del proyecto
Los nanodiamantes con centros de defectos ofrecen un gran potencial para la detección cuántica en biología
En biología, la utilización de nanosondas podría mejorar la comprensión de la maquinaria celular mediante la detección de las moléculas o procesos pertinentes. Los investigadores han demostrado recientemente que los centros de vacantes de nitrógeno de los nanodiamantes sirven como sondas ópticas ultrasensibles para las reacciones redox. Estos defectos puntuales en los nanodiamantes permitirían la detección y localización intracelular de iones y moléculas. Ampliar sus tiempos de coherencia, que son bastante breves, y mejorar su especificidad y estabilidad coloidal podría aumentar aún más su sensibilidad. El proyecto ChemiQS, financiado con fondos europeos, aspira a hacer frente a estos problemas mediante el desarrollo de un nuevo método químico que mejore las propiedades de espín de los vacantes de nitrógeno, al diseñar recubrimientos poliméricos ultrafinos en el diamante y utilizar técnicas químicas avanzadas para la detección de analitos.
Objetivo
Quantum sensing is a recent, dynamically expanding field affecting many scientific and industrial disciplines, including chemistry, biochemistry, biology and medicine. I have been advancing this field by developing quantum physical principles for the detection of Nitrogen‑Vacancy (NV) spin states in diamond. In my recent collaboration with the hosting supervisor, we have demonstrated that nanodiamond particles (NDs) can act as an optical probe for redox reactions reaching unprecedented sensitivity of 10 external spins. ND probes have enormous potential for instance for intracellular localized detection, but the sensitivity is limited by short NV coherence times due to subsurface defects and unsaturated bonds. Moreover, the sensor specificity and colloidal stability in the biological liquids need to be addressed. I aim to tackle these drawbacks by developing a radically novel chemical approach to remove the unpaired electrons and by engineering ultrathin polymer coatings and linking strategies. To reach the project's complex goals, a highly interdisciplinary approach is proposed. My plan is to 1) annihilate the dangling bonds and subsurface defects by controlled surface removal using radical etching in the gas phase, 2) develop colloidally stable ND probes using ultrathin polymer coating, 3) use NV spin properties to optically detect paramagnetic ions and nucleic acids in biologically relevant conditions with unprecedented sensitivity. The proposed fellowship will allow me to look at the problematics of quantum sensors from the chemical point of view, complementing my expertise in physics. Furthermore, acquiring chemical skills by working in a leading ND surface chemistry group, will improve my prospects to become a leader in the topic of quantum biological sensing, which I want to pursue further in my home country. At the same time, I would like to bring to the host group my expertise in quantum sensing methodology that will be used in the project and beyond it.
Ámbito científico
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesnucleic acids
- natural scienceschemical sciencesorganic chemistryorganic reactions
- natural scienceschemical sciencespolymer sciences
- engineering and technologymaterials engineeringcoating and films
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensors
Programa(s)
Convocatoria de propuestas
Consulte otros proyectos de esta convocatoriaConvocatoria de subcontratación
H2020-WF-03-2020
Régimen de financiación
MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EFCoordinador
16610 Praha 6
Chequia