Nanoscale Nuclear Spin Imaging and Spectroscopy using Nitrogen-Vacancy Centers in Diamond

在化学系化学测量和成像项目的支持下，以及生物基础设施部生物研究仪器开发项目的共同资助下，纽约市立大学城市学院的Carlos Meriles教授和他的团队正在设计磁共振成像(MRI)的新方法。这一重要的分析工具被科学家、卫生专业人员和实验室技术人员用来解决广泛的问题，如细胞和蛋白质的功能、工业中化学过程的监测和优化以及人类器官功能障碍的诊断。目前使用的磁共振缺乏对高(亚微米)空间分辨率的样品进行成像所需的灵敏度，这是一个严重的障碍。梅里尔斯博士用一种新的策略解决了这个问题，最终目标是以纳米分辨率探测小型生命系统。该策略利用了“NV中心”--钻石晶体中的缺陷，这种缺陷对局部磁场极其敏感。通过将磁共振与扫描和光学显微镜相结合，将操纵和检测样品表面附近的单个NV中心，提供关于样品表面的化学信息。这种方法的一个独特之处在于，与主流核磁共振不同，不需要笨重的超导磁体和强大的磁场梯度。这项工作承诺将产生广泛的科学和技术影响，潜在的应用包括在几乎为零的磁场下对单个细胞进行纳米级成像，在环境条件下对微生物的高分辨率核磁共振光谱，对纳米孔或膜系统中分子扩散的传感，以及对单个肌肉细胞或神经元网络中细胞活动的监测。伴随这一努力的是一项广泛的教育计划，其中除了研究生培训外，还包括旨在通过CCNY内部和合作机构主办实验室的暑期活动改善教学实验室和为贫困学生提供各种研究机会的活动。

With support from the Chemical Measurement and Imaging program in the Division of Chemistry, and co-funding from the Instrument Development for Biological Research program in the Division of Biological Infrastructure, Prof. Carlos Meriles and his group at the City University of New York - City College are devising new approaches to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This important analytical tool is used by scientists, health professionals, and lab technicians to address a broad range of questions such as the functioning of cells and proteins, the monitoring and optimization of chemical processes in industry, and the diagnosis of organ dysfunction in humans. Magnetic resonance as currently practiced lacks the sensitivity necessary to image samples with high (sub-micron) spatial resolution, a serious impediment. Dr. Meriles addresses this problem with a novel strategy ultimately aimed at probing small living systems with nanometer resolution. The strategy makes use of "NV centers"- imperfections in diamond crystals which are extremely sensitive to local magnetic fields. By integrating magnetic resonance with scanning and optical microscopy, individual NV centers near a sample surface will be manipulated and detected, providing chemical information about the sample surface. A unique aspect of this approach is that, unlike mainstream MRI, bulky superconducting magnets and strong field gradients are unnecessary. The work promises broad scientific and technological impact, with potential applications including nanoscale imaging of single cells at virtually zero magnetic field, high-resolution NMR spectroscopy of microorganisms under ambient conditions, sensing of molecular diffusion in nanoporous or membranous systems, and the monitoring of cell activity in single muscle cells or neuron networks. Accompanying this effort is a broad educational plan, which, besides graduate student training, includes activities aimed at improving instructional laboratories and various research opportunities for underprivileged students through summer activities within CCNY and in host laboratories of partner institutions.