Is a Quantum Biosensing Revolution Approaching? Perspectives in NV‐Assisted Current and Thermal Biosensing in Living Cells

Abstract

Understanding the human brain is one of the most significant challenges of the 21st century. As theoretical studies continue to improve the description of the complex mechanisms that regulate biological processes, in parallel numerous experiments are conducted to enrich or verify these theoretical predictions also with the aim of extrapolating more accurate models. In the fields of magnetometry and thermometry, among the various sensors proposed for biological application, nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers are emerging as a promising solution due to their perfect biocompatibility and the possibility of being positioned in close proximity to the cell membrane, thus allowing a nanometric spatial resolution down to the nano-scale. Still many issues must be overcome to obtain either a sensitivity capable of revealing the very weak electromagnetic fields generated by neurons (or other excitable cells) during their firing activity or a spatial resolution sufficient to measure intracellular thermal gradient due to biological processes. However, over the last few years, significant improvements have been achieved in this direction, thanks to the use of innovative techniques. In this review, the new results regarding the application of NV centers will be analyzed and the main challenges that must be afforded for leading to practical applications will be discussed.

Quantum nanophotonic and nanoplasmonic sensing: towards quantum optical bioscience laboratories on chip

“…Further, on chip generation of the higher-dimensional entangled states is also being realized where the photons were created in a coherent superposition of multiple high-purity frequency modes (Figure 12c) many sensing devices and provide the fundamental mechanism for quantum-based magnetometry [93,253,254], thermometry [255,256] and quantum-enhanced biosensing [257,258] applications. Petrini et al discuss the theory of quantum sensing with NV centres in more detail [259], whereas this section provides a summary of the main aims and challenges for solid-state spin-based quantum biosensing.…”

Advanced real-time recordings of neuronal activity with tailored patch pipettes, diamond multi-electrode arrays and electrochromic voltage-sensitive dyes

“…Also, problems occurring due to the relative shear motion between the stiff probe and the (soft) brain tissue, the chemical instability and delamination of electrodes have to be addressed [114]. Therefore, it is mandatory in the future to develop probes that have a stiffness comparable with the brain tissue and that are at the same time brain tissue compatible with not trigger any inflammatory processes [76].…”

A biocompatible technique for magnetic field sensing at (sub)cellular scale using Nitrogen-Vacancy centers

“…(where g is the Landé factor and μ B the Bohr magneton), a measurement of this shift directly detect the intensity of the applied field. Infact, A variation δB NV in the applied magnetic field causes a shift δν + = 1 h gμ B δB NV to the higher-frequency ODMR dip and a corresponding δν -= - 1 h gμ B δB NV shift for the lower-frequency one. Tracking the ODMR shift, δν + or δν -, allows the measurement of the variation of the applied field δB NV .…”

“…All authors read and approved the final manuscript. 1 Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica, Strada delle cacce 91, Turin, Italy. 2 Physics Department and NIS Centre of Excellence, University of Torino, Turin, Italy.…”

“…Magnetometry in biological systems is of the utmost importance for fundamental biological science and medicine [1]. Mapping brain activity by recording magnetic fields produced by the electrical currents which are naturally occurring in the brain is of extreme interest [2,3], with direct applications in the timely detection and cure of psychic and neurodegenerative disorders [4][5][6].…”