Monitoring ion-channel function in real time through quantum decoherence

作者：Hall Liam T^*; Hill Charles D; Cole Jared H; Staedler Brigitte; Caruso Frank; Mulvaney Paul; Wrachtrup Joerg; Hollenberg Lloyd C L

来源：Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2010, 107(44): 18777-18782.

DOI：10.1073/pnas.1002562107

• biophysics
• magnetometry
• nanomagnetometry
• open quantum systems

In drug discovery, there is a clear and urgent need for detection of cell-membrane ion-channel operation with wide-field capability. Existing techniques are generally invasive or require specialized nanostructures. We show that quantum nanotechnology could provide a solution. The nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center in nanodiamond is of great interest as a single-atom quantum probe for nanoscale processes. However, until now nothing was known about the quantum behavior of a NV probe in a complex biological environment. We explore the quantum dynamics of a NV probe in proximity to the ion channel, lipid bilayer, and surrounding aqueous environment. Our theoretical results indicate that real-time detection of ion-channel operation at millisecond resolution is possible by directly monitoring the quantum decoherence of the NV probe. With the potential to scan and scale up to an array-based system, this conclusion may have wide-ranging implications for nanoscale biology and drug discovery.

• 出版日期2010-11-2