Hyperpolarized peptide-coated nanodiamonds for magnetic resonance imaging (C06)

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Hyperpolarized 13C magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a promising tool to monitor the success of cancer treatment but currently requires extremely low temperatures and hour-long polarisation times. This project will use nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in nanodiamonds functionalized e.g. with cancer cell targeting peptides, to achieve a ~10,000-fold increase of the 13C nuclear spin polarisation at room temperature. Attachment of peptides to nanodiamonds might also allow to specifically target and detect cancer cells. Thus, this methodology greatly expands the possibilities for in vivo monitoring of molecular processes and holds great promise for biomedical research as well as cancer diagnostics and staging.