Diamond Magnetometry: A Versatile Tool for Virology and Medicine

ended

Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS)/ free radicals (FR) in cells have a very complicated role in viral infections. While some researchers point toward their usefulness in mediating viral infections, others conclude the exact opposite and claim that there are detrimental effects. To probe deeper into virus pathogenesis and improve anti-viral therapy, cellular FR - viral infection kinetics which potentially depends on virus, cell/animal model, type of reactive species, etc. needs to be investigated with high spatiotemporal resolution. However, all the traditional methods capable of detecting FR have limitations when real-time, long-duration, high resolution measurements are to be conducted within a small sample volume (inside of a cell). Recently, diamond magnetometry was proposed to study cellular FR with unparalleled sensitivity, resolution, and the possibility of real-time long-duration measurements. In this highly interdisciplinary collaborative research, I aim to establish this technique in studying cellular FR- viral infections kinetics. As a model system I will investigate the host cell FR response upon Sindbis virus (SINV) infection with high spatiotemporal resolution. FR response will be quantified via measuring T1 relaxation time of Nitrogen Vacancy centers in fluorescent nanodiamonds (FNDs). Furthermore, I intend to highlight the potential of diamond magnetometry in clinical diagnostics and drug development by demonstrating the FR detection in synovial fluid of arthritis patients (outcome of SINV infection) and detecting cells’ FR response to anti- oxidants. Upon successful completion, I will not only have elucidated the interplay of FR and SINV infections but also underscored the potential of diamond magnetometry in fundamental virology, infection biology, clinical diagnostics and pharmaceutical industry. This research strongly aligns with two work programs within Horizon 2020 focused on health (SC1-BHC) and nanotechnology- biotechnology (DT-NMBP).