Project R-2894

Nanodiamond Spin-Magnetometer and FRET Sensors: a new route for molecular resolution neuronal and network-level imaging (Research)

The availability of contactless tools for real-time dynamic biochemical monitoring in cells can significantly enhance our current knowledge about molecular-scale biophysics. An example is optical probing of bioelectrical signals in single neurons and neural networks via their electromagnetic activity. Such nanoscale mapping could resolve the gap between neural cellular and emerging network-level functions and deciphering the brain connectomics - the wiring diagram of the brain. The proposed project develops novel neural network imaging based on optically-detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) and Foerster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) principles, manipulating with single photons and spins in nanodiamond (ND) particles. The ND particles can be fabricated containing NV defect centres and used for optical quantum imaging. This technique will be used for monitoring ultra-weak electromagnetic fields in neurons, intracellulary transfected with ND particles. The ND particles will be covalently grafted with suitable biomolecules and anchored in the cell membrane  close to synaptic events. The optical signals are deconvoluted to vector electric or magnetic fields and related to action potential mapping. The project addresses the fundamental aspects of chemical functionalision of ND particles and single spin and single photon imaging, as a relevant replacement of chemical tags or quantum-dot markers for modern research in biology.

01 January 2011 - 31 December 2014