Diamond nanopillar arrays for quantum microscopy of neuronal signals.

Content Provider	Europe PMC
Author	Hanlon, Liam Gautam, Vini Wood, James D. A. Reddy, Prithvi Barson, Michael S. J. Niihori, Marika Silalahi, Alexander R. J. Corry, Ben Wrachtrup, Jörg Sellars, Matthew J. Daria, Vincent R. Maletinsky, Patrick Stuart, Gregory J. Doherty, Marcus W.
Copyright Year	2020
Abstract	Abstract.Significance: Wide-field measurement of cellular membrane dynamics with high spatiotemporal resolution can facilitate analysis of the computing properties of neuronal circuits. Quantum microscopy using a nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center is a promising technique to achieve this goal.Aim: We propose a proof-of-principle approach to NV-based neuron functional imaging.Approach: This goal is achieved by engineering NV quantum sensors in diamond nanopillar arrays and switching their sensing mode to detect the changes in the electric fields instead of the magnetic fields, which has the potential to greatly improve signal detection. Apart from containing the NV quantum sensors, nanopillars also function as waveguides, delivering the excitation/emission light to improve sensitivity. The nanopillars also improve the amplitude of the neuron electric field sensed by the NV by removing screening charges. When the nanopillar array is used as a cell niche, it acts as a cell scaffolds which makes the pillars function as biomechanical cues that facilitate the growth and formation of neuronal circuits. Based on these growth patterns, numerical modeling of the nanoelectromagnetics between the nanopillar and the neuron was also performed.Results: The growth study showed that nanopillars with a 2-μm pitch and a 200-nm diameter show ideal growth patterns for nanopillar sensing. The modeling showed an electric field amplitude as high as ≈1.02×1010  mV/m at an NV 100 nm from the membrane, a value almost 10 times the minimum field that the NV can detect.Conclusion: This proof-of-concept study demonstrated unprecedented NV sensing potential for the functional imaging of mammalian neuron signals.
Related Links	https://europepmc.org/backend/ptpmcrender.fcgi?accid=PMC7406893&blobtype=pdf
Page Count	12
ISSN	2329423X
Journal	Neurophotonics
Volume Number	7
PubMed Central reference number	PMC7406893
Issue Number	3
PubMed reference number	32775500
e-ISSN	23294248
DOI	10.1117/1.nph.7.3.035002
Language	English
Publisher	Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers
Publisher Date	2020-07-01
Access Restriction	Open
Rights License	Published by SPIE under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Unported License. Distribution or reproduction of this work in whole or in part requires full attribution of the original publication, including its DOI. © 2020 The Authors
Subject Keyword	nanopillars nitrogen-vacancy neuroimaging neuromodeling neurons
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Neuroscience Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging Radiological and Ultrasound Technology