Nanodiamond Emulsions for Enhanced Quantum Sensing and Click-Chemistry Conjugation
At a Glance
Section titled āAt a Glanceā| Metadata | Details |
|---|---|
| Publication Date | 2024-06-29 |
| Journal | ACS Applied Nano Materials |
| Authors | Henry J. Shulevitz, Ahmad Amirshaghaghi, Mathieu Ouellet, Caroline Brustoloni, Shengsong Yang |
| Institutions | University of Pennsylvania |
| Citations | 7 |
Abstract
Section titled āAbstractāNanodiamonds containing nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers can serve as colloidal quantum sensors of local fields in biological and chemical environments. However, nanodiamond surfaces are challenging to modify without degrading their colloidal stability or the NV centerās optical and spin properties. We present a simple and general method to coat nanodiamonds with a thin emulsion layer that preserves their quantum features, maintains their colloidal stability, and provides functional groups for subsequent cross-linking and click-chemistry conjugation reactions. To demonstrate this technique, we decorated nanodiamonds with combinations of carboxyl- and azide-terminated amphiphiles that enable conjugation using two different strategies. A theoretical model is developed to understand the effect of the emulsion layer on the NV centerās spin lifetime, and T1 relaxometry is employed to quantify the nanodiamondsā chemical sensitivity to paramagnetic ions. This general approach to nanodiamond surface functionalization will enable advances in quantum nanomedicine and biological sensing.