Turin, July 25th 2022 – The quantum optics group of INRiM (lead by Research Director Marco Genovese) has been able to observe the temperature raise in a neuron induced by the increase of its "firing" activity for the first time, exploiting a quantum sensor based on the spin properties of Nitrogen-Vacancy centers in nanodiamonds.
The results of the research “Nanodiamond–quantum sensors reveal temperature variation associated to hippocampal neurons firing”, has been published in Advanced Science Journal (doi.org/10.1002/advs.202202014).
These quantum sensors, thanks to their nanoscale dimensions and their biocompatibility, are able to pass the cell membrane and probe the target quantities without damaging the cell itself or altering its functioning.
The experiment, realized in the context of PATHOS (Horizon 2020) and QADeT (EURAMET EMPIR) projects, has been carried in collaboration with the Drug Science and Technology Department and the Physics Department of University of Turin, Italian National Institute of Nuclear Physics and the Institute of Organic Chemistry and biochemistry of the Science Academy of Czech Republic.
Advanced Science
Nanodiamond–Quantum Sensors Reveal Temperature Variation Associated to Hippocampal Neurons Firing
25-Jul-2022