QuSeC-TAQS: Quantum Sensing Platform for Biomolecular Analytics

QuSeC-TAQS：用于生物分子分析的量子传感平台

• 批准号: 2326748
• 负责人: Peter Maurer
• 金额: $ 200万
• 依托单位: University of Chicago
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2023-09-01 至 2027-08-31
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2326748&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: QuSeC; TAQS; Quantum; Sensing; Platform

This research project aims at the development of a quantum sensing platform for biomolecular analytics. If successful, this work will pave the way to a quantum-enabled biosensor that can detect different protein binding events. Such a novel quantum sensing technology will form the basis for a new generation of biomedical devices capable of monitoring the concentration of thousands of proteins in blood and, thereby, detect diseases before their clinical manifestation. The convergent aspect of this research program will furthermore train a next generation of quantum scientists and engineers that are able to venture beyond the current boundaries and bring quantum technology into the life sciences. Nitrogen vacancy (NV) centers in diamond have emerged as a powerful technology sensitive enough to detect the EPR spectrum of individual biomolecules. By combining NV-based quantum sensors with DNA-aptamer protein binding assays, this project explores a new robust bio-analytics platform that can spectroscopically differentiate between different protein binding events. The project pursues the following four key scientific challenges that will form the basis for such a quantum-enabled bio-analytical device: (i) engineering of a DNA-aptamer – quantum sensor interface, (ii) understanding and controlling noise inherent to biological interfaces, (iii) integrating diamond photonics in biosensors, and (iv) engineering transduction of biological events to quantum-detectable signals. As a result, this work will demonstrate the fundamentals of a quantum-enabled bioanalytical device that is capable of interfacing intact proteins with a coherent quantum sensor and that is able to distinguish specific single-protein binding events with a low false-positive rate.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

该研究项目旨在开发用于生物分子分析的量子传感平台。如果成功，这项工作将为能够检测不同蛋白质结合事件的量子生物传感器铺平道路。这种新颖的量子传感技术将成为新一代生物医学设备的基础，这些设备能够监测血液中数千种蛋白质的浓度，从而在疾病出现临床表现之前检测到疾病。这项研究计划的融合方面将进一步培养下一代量子科学家和工程师，他们能够超越当前的界限，将量子技术带入生命科学。金刚石中的氮空位（NV）中心已经成为一种强大的技术，它的灵敏度足以检测单个生物分子的EPR光谱。通过将基于nv的量子传感器与dna适体蛋白结合试验相结合，该项目探索了一种新的强大的生物分析平台，可以在光谱上区分不同的蛋白结合事件。该项目追求以下四个关键的科学挑战，这些挑战将构成这种量子生物分析设备的基础：(i) dna适体-量子传感器界面的工程，（ii）理解和控制生物界面固有的噪声，（iii）将钻石光子学集成到生物传感器中，以及（iv）将生物事件转化为量子可探测信号的工程。因此，这项工作将展示量子生物分析设备的基本原理，该设备能够将完整的蛋白质与相干量子传感器连接起来，并且能够以低假阳性率区分特定的单蛋白结合事件。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。