Fluorescent nanodiamond quantum sensing: from cell to organism
This thesis explores how harmful molecules called free radicals behave inside living cells and tissues. Free radicals play important roles in many diseases, but they are very difficult to measure. To solve this, we use a cutting-edge technology called quantum sensing with tiny fluorescent diamonds—known as fluorescent nanodiamonds (FNDs)—that can detect these molecules in real time inside cells.
Using this method, we studied how free radicals contribute to heart disease, skin damage from sunlight, and brain disorders like Huntington’s disease. We developed new ways to deliver these sensors into tissues, including a painless microneedle patch for skin and testing in tiny worms that mimic human disease. Our work shows that nanodiamond-based quantum sensing is a powerful tool to understand how oxidative stress develops in the body, potentially leading to earlier detection and better treatments for chronic diseases.