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

超极化13C磁共振成像(MRI)是一种很有前途的监测癌症治疗成功的工具，但目前需要极低的温度和长达一小时的极化时间。该项目将在功能化的纳米钻石中使用氮空位(NV)中心，例如通过癌细胞靶向肽，在室温下实现13C核自旋极化增加约10,000倍。将多肽附着在纳米钻石上也可能使其能够特异性地靶向和检测癌细胞。因此，这种方法极大地扩展了体内监测分子过程的可能性，并为生物医学研究以及癌症诊断和分期带来了巨大的希望。

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.