Bioimaging

We are developing and applying a suite of transformative new bioimaging tools exploiting quantum sensing, super-resolution optical imaging, correlated electron microscopy, cathodoluminescence, and new modalities for NMR and MRI. Applications range from noninvasive magnetic imaging of individual neurons to high-resolution NMR spectroscopy of single cells to open-access, low-magnetic-field human MRI. Some examples are given below.

Quantum Diamond Microscope (QDM)

The Quantum Diamond Microscope (QDM) provides noninvasive, wide-field magnetic imaging of 2D biological samples with diffraction-limited resolution and high sensitivity. The QDM can map static magnetic field patterns, such as populations of living magnetotactic bacteria and in magnetic nanoparticle-labeled cells and biomarkers. The QDM can also be configured for real-time magnetic imaging of currents in electrically active cells and cellular networks, such as cardiac cells and neurons with single cell resolution. These capabilities are not available with any other technology.

A Quantum Diamond Microscope can be used for (top row) noninvasive magnetic sensing of action potentials in live marine worms; (lower left) chains of naturally occurring magnetic nanoparticles in bacteria; (lower right) magnetic nanoparticle-labeled tumor cells in blood.

Functionalized Super-Resolution Imaging

We pioneered the use of nanoparticles to provide functionalized electron microscopy via multi-color cathodoluminescence of nanoparticles, which may allow determination of both the structure and function of brain circuits with individual synapse resolution. We also pursue new approaches to add functional capability to super-resolution optical imaging by integrating STED and RESOLFT techniques with nanoscale sensing using quantum defects in diamond.

Multi-color cathodoluminescence (CL) of nanoparticles containing different types of quantum defects. The CL images are well-correlated with electron microscopy images of the nanoparticles and provide superior resolution to confocal imaging. Scale bars are 200 nm.

Publications

Quantum sensors for biomedical applications. Nabeel Aslam, Hengyun Zhou, Elana K. Urbach, Matthew J. Turner, Ronald L. Walsworth, Mikhail D. Lukin, and Hongkun Park. Nature Reviews Physics (2023). link PDF
BibTeX
@article{Aslam2023, sort_date = {2023-02-03}, sort_date_type = {journal-publication}, author = {Aslam, Nabeel and Zhou, Hengyun and Urbach, Elana K. and Turner, Matthew J. and Walsworth, Ronald L. and Lukin, Mikhail D. and Park, Hongkun}, title = {Quantum sensors for biomedical applications}, journal = {Nature Reviews Physics}, year = {2023}, month = {February}, comment = {02}, day = {03}, issn = {2522-5820}, doi = {10.1038/s42254-023-00558-3}, url_link = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s42254-023-00558-3}, url_pdf = {/files/2023/02/2023_Aslam_Nat_Rev_Phys.pdf}, keywords = {quantum-sensing, bioimaging, nmr-mri} }

Fundamental Precision Bounds for Three-Dimensional Optical Localization Microscopy with Poisson Statistics. Mikael P. Backlund, Yoav Shechtman, and Ronald L. Walsworth. Physical Review Letters 121, 023904 (2018). link PDF supplement
BibTeX
@article{Backlund2018, eprint = {1803.01776}, archiveprefix = {arXiv}, sort_date = {2018-07-11}, sort_date_type = {journal-publication}, author = {Backlund, Mikael P. and Shechtman, Yoav and Walsworth, Ronald L.}, title = {Fundamental {Precision} {Bounds} for {Three}-{Dimensional} {Optical} {Localization} {Microscopy} with {Poisson} {Statistics}}, journal = {Physical Review Letters}, year = {2018}, volume = {121}, number = {2}, pages = {023904}, month = {jul}, comment = {07}, doi = {10.1103/PhysRevLett.121.023904}, keywords = {bioimaging, quantum-sensing}, url_link = {https://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevLett.121.023904}, url_pdf = {/files/2020/08/2018_Backlund_PRL.pdf}, url_supplement = {/files/2020/08/2018_Backlund_PRL_SM.pdf} }

arXiv
Mapping the microscale origins of magnetic resonance image contrast with subcellular diamond magnetometry. Hunter C. Davis, Pradeep Ramesh, Aadyot Bhatnagar, Audrey Lee-Gosselin, John F. Barry, David R. Glenn, Ronald L. Walsworth, and Mikhail G. Shapiro. Nature Communications 9, 131 (2018). link PDF
BibTeX
@article{Davis2018, eprint = {1610.01924}, archiveprefix = {arXiv}, sort_date = {2018-01-09}, sort_date_type = {journal-publication}, author = {Davis, Hunter C. and Ramesh, Pradeep and Bhatnagar, Aadyot and Lee-Gosselin, Audrey and Barry, John F. and Glenn, David R. and Walsworth, Ronald L. and Shapiro, Mikhail G.}, title = {Mapping the microscale origins of magnetic resonance image contrast with subcellular diamond magnetometry}, journal = {Nature Communications}, year = {2018}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {131}, month = {jan}, comment = {01}, doi = {10.1038/s41467-017-02471-7}, keywords = {nmr-mri, bioimaging, quantum-sensing}, url_link = {https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-017-02471-7}, url_pdf = {/files/2020/08/2018_Davis_NatureComm.pdf} }

arXiv

Efficiency of Cathodoluminescence Emission by Nitrogen-Vacancy Color Centers in Nanodiamonds. Huiliang Zhang, David R. Glenn, Richard Schalek, Jeff W. Lichtman, and Ronald L. Walsworth. Small 13, 1700543 (2017). link PDF supplement
BibTeX
@article{Zhang2017, sort_date = {2017-06}, sort_date_type = {journal-issue}, author = {Zhang, Huiliang and Glenn, David R. and Schalek, Richard and Lichtman, Jeff W. and Walsworth, Ronald L.}, title = {Efficiency of {Cathodoluminescence} {Emission} by {Nitrogen}-{Vacancy} {Color} {Centers} in {Nanodiamonds}}, journal = {Small}, year = {2017}, month = {4}, day = {18}, volume = {13}, number = {22}, pages = {1700543}, doi = {10.1002/smll.201700543}, keywords = {bioimaging, quantum-sensing}, url_link = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/smll.201700543}, url_pdf = {/files/2020/08/2017_Zhang_Small.pdf}, url_supplement = {/files/2020/08/2017_Zhang_Small_SM.pdf} }
Superresolution optical magnetic imaging and spectroscopy using individual electronic spins in diamond. Jean-Christophe Jaskula, Erik Bauch, Silvia Arroyo-Camejo, Mikhail D. Lukin, Stefan W. Hell, Alexei S. Trifonov, and Ronald L. Walsworth. Optics Express 25, 11048–11064 (2017). link PDF
BibTeX
@article{Jaskula2017, eprint = {1610.02097}, archiveprefix = {arXiv}, sort_date = {2017-05-15}, sort_date_type = {journal-issue}, author = {Jaskula, Jean-Christophe and Bauch, Erik and Arroyo-Camejo, Silvia and Lukin, Mikhail D. and Hell, Stefan W. and Trifonov, Alexei S. and Walsworth, Ronald L.}, title = {Superresolution optical magnetic imaging and spectroscopy using individual electronic spins in diamond}, journal = {Optics Express}, year = {2017}, volume = {25}, number = {10}, pages = {11048--11064}, month = {may}, comment = {05}, doi = {10.1364/OE.25.011048}, keywords = {bioimaging, quantum-sensing}, url_link = {https://www.osapublishing.org/oe/abstract.cfm?uri=oe-25-10-11048}, url_pdf = {/files/2020/08/2017_Jaskula_OE.pdf} }

arXiv
Nanodiamond-enhanced MRI via in situ hyperpolarization. David E. J. Waddington, Mathieu Sarracanie, Huiliang Zhang, Najat Salameh, David R. Glenn, Ewa Rej, Torsten Gaebel, Thomas Boele, Ronald L. Walsworth, David J. Reilly, and Matthew S. Rosen. Nature Communications 8, 15118 (2017). link PDF supplement
BibTeX
@article{Waddington2017, sort_date = {2017-04-26}, sort_date_type = {journal-publication}, author = {Waddington, David E. J. and Sarracanie, Mathieu and Zhang, Huiliang and Salameh, Najat and Glenn, David R. and Rej, Ewa and Gaebel, Torsten and Boele, Thomas and Walsworth, Ronald L. and Reilly, David J. and Rosen, Matthew S.}, title = {Nanodiamond-enhanced {MRI} via in situ hyperpolarization}, journal = {Nature Communications}, year = {2017}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {15118}, month = {apr}, comment = {04}, doi = {10.1038/ncomms15118}, keywords = {nmr-mri, bioimaging, quantum-sensing}, url_link = {https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms15118}, url_pdf = {/files/2020/08/2017_Waddington_NatureComm.pdf}, url_supplement = {/files/2020/08/2017_Waddington_NatureComm_SM.pdf} }

Optical magnetic detection of single-neuron action potentials using quantum defects in diamond. John F. Barry, Matthew J. Turner, Jennifer M. Schloss, David R. Glenn, Yuyu Song, Mikhail D. Lukin, Hongkun Park, and Ronald L. Walsworth. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 113, 14133–14138 (2016). link PDF supplement
BibTeX
@article{Barry2016, eprint = {1602.01056}, archiveprefix = {arXiv}, sort_date = {2016-12-06}, sort_date_type = {journal-issue}, author = {Barry, John F. and Turner, Matthew J. and Schloss, Jennifer M. and Glenn, David R. and Song, Yuyu and Lukin, Mikhail D. and Park, Hongkun and Walsworth, Ronald L.}, title = {Optical magnetic detection of single-neuron action potentials using quantum defects in diamond}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences}, year = {2016}, volume = {113}, number = {49}, pages = {14133--14138}, month = {dec}, comment = {12}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.1601513113}, keywords = {bioimaging, quantum-sensing}, url_link = {https://www.pnas.org/content/113/49/14133}, url_pdf = {/files/2020/08/2016_Barry_PNAS.pdf}, url_supplement = {/files/2020/08/2016_Barry_PNAS_SM.pdf} }

arXiv

Single-cell magnetic imaging using a quantum diamond microscope. David R. Glenn, Kyungheon Lee, Hongkun Park, Ralph Weissleder, Amir Yacoby, Mikhail D. Lukin, Hakho Lee, Ronald L. Walsworth, and Colin B. Connolly. Nature Methods 12, 736–738 (2015). link PDF supplement
BibTeX
@article{Glenn2015, sort_date = {2015-08}, sort_date_type = {journal-issue}, author = {Glenn, David R. and Lee, Kyungheon and Park, Hongkun and Weissleder, Ralph and Yacoby, Amir and Lukin, Mikhail D. and Lee, Hakho and Walsworth, Ronald L. and Connolly, Colin B.}, title = {Single-cell magnetic imaging using a quantum diamond microscope}, journal = {Nature Methods}, year = {2015}, volume = {12}, number = {8}, pages = {736--738}, month = {aug}, comment = {08}, doi = {10.1038/nmeth.3449}, keywords = {bioimaging, quantum-sensing}, url_link = {https://www.nature.com/articles/nmeth.3449}, url_pdf = {/files/2020/08/2015_DGlenn_NatureMethod.pdf}, url_supplement = {/files/2020/08/2015_DGlenn_NatureMethod_SM.pdf} }
A genetic strategy for probing the functional diversity of magnetosome formation. Lilah Rahn-Lee, Meghan E. Byrne, Manjing Zhang, David Le Sage, David R. Glenn, Timothy Milbourne, Ronald L. Walsworth, Hojatollah Vali, and Arash Komeili. PLoS genetics 11, e1004811 (2015). link PDF
BibTeX
@article{Rahn-Lee2015, sort_date = {2015-01-08}, sort_date_type = {journal-publication}, author = {Rahn-Lee, Lilah and Byrne, Meghan E. and Zhang, Manjing and Le Sage, David and Glenn, David R. and Milbourne, Timothy and Walsworth, Ronald L. and Vali, Hojatollah and Komeili, Arash}, title = {A genetic strategy for probing the functional diversity of magnetosome formation}, journal = {PLoS genetics}, year = {2015}, month = {1}, day = {8}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {e1004811}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pgen.1004811}, keywords = {bioimaging, quantum-sensing}, url_pdf = {/files/2020/08/2015_Rahn-Lee_PLOS.pdf}, url_link = {https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.1004811} }
Atomic-Scale Nuclear Spin Imaging Using Quantum-Assisted Sensors in Diamond. A. Ajoy, U. Bissbort, M.D. Lukin, R.L. Walsworth, and P. Cappellaro. Physical Review X 5, 011001 (2015). link PDF
BibTeX
@article{Ajoy2015, eprint = {1407.3134}, archiveprefix = {arXiv}, sort_date = {2015-01-07}, sort_date_type = {journal-publication}, author = {Ajoy, A. and Bissbort, U. and Lukin, M.D. and Walsworth, R.L. and Cappellaro, P.}, title = {Atomic-{Scale} {Nuclear} {Spin} {Imaging} {Using} {Quantum}-{Assisted} {Sensors} in {Diamond}}, journal = {Physical Review X}, year = {2015}, volume = {5}, number = {1}, pages = {011001}, month = {jan}, comment = {01}, doi = {10.1103/PhysRevX.5.011001}, keywords = {bioimaging, quantum-sensing}, url_link = {https://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevX.5.011001}, url_pdf = {/files/2020/08/2015_Ajoy_PRX.pdf} }

arXiv

Silicon-Vacancy Color Centers in Nanodiamonds: Cathodoluminescence Imaging Markers in the Near Infrared. Huiliang Zhang, Igor Aharonovich, David R. Glenn, Richard Schalek, Andrew P. Magyar, Jeff W. Lichtman, Evelyn L. Hu, and Ronald L. Walsworth. Small 10, 1908–1913 (2014). link PDF
BibTeX
@article{Zhang2014, sort_date = {2014-05}, sort_date_type = {journal-issue}, author = {Zhang, Huiliang and Aharonovich, Igor and Glenn, David R. and Schalek, Richard and Magyar, Andrew P. and Lichtman, Jeff W. and Hu, Evelyn L. and Walsworth, Ronald L.}, title = {Silicon-{Vacancy} {Color} {Centers} in {Nanodiamonds}: {Cathodoluminescence} {Imaging} {Markers} in the {Near} {Infrared}}, journal = {Small}, year = {2014}, month = {3}, day = {4}, volume = {10}, number = {10}, pages = {1908--1913}, doi = {10.1002/smll.201303582}, keywords = {bioimaging, quantum-sensing}, url_link = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/smll.201303582}, url_pdf = {/files/2020/08/2014_Zhang_Small.pdf} }

Optical magnetic imaging of living cells. D. Le Sage, K. Arai, D. R. Glenn, S. J. DeVience, L. M. Pham, L. Rahn-Lee, M. D. Lukin, A. Yacoby, A. Komeili, and R. L. Walsworth. Nature 496, 486–489 (2013). link PDF
BibTeX
@article{LeSage2013, sort_date = {2013-04}, sort_date_type = {journal-issue}, author = {Le Sage, D. and Arai, K. and Glenn, D. R. and DeVience, S. J. and Pham, L. M. and Rahn-Lee, L. and Lukin, M. D. and Yacoby, A. and Komeili, A. and Walsworth, R. L.}, title = {Optical magnetic imaging of living cells}, journal = {Nature}, year = {2013}, volume = {496}, number = {7446}, pages = {486--489}, month = {apr}, comment = {04}, doi = {10.1038/nature12072}, keywords = {bioimaging, quantum-sensing}, url_link = {https://www.nature.com/articles/nature12072}, url_pdf = {/files/2020/08/2013_LeSage_Nature.pdf} }

Correlative light and electron microscopy using cathodoluminescence from nanoparticles with distinguishable colours. D. R. Glenn, H. Zhang, N. Kasthuri, R. Schalek, P. K. Lo, A. S. Trifonov, H. Park, J. W. Lichtman, and R. L. Walsworth. Scientific Reports 2, 865 (2012). link PDF supplement
BibTeX
@article{Glenn2012, sort_date = {2012-11-15}, sort_date_type = {journal-publication}, author = {Glenn, D. R. and Zhang, H. and Kasthuri, N. and Schalek, R. and Lo, P. K. and Trifonov, A. S. and Park, H. and Lichtman, J. W. and Walsworth, R. L.}, title = {Correlative light and electron microscopy using cathodoluminescence from nanoparticles with distinguishable colours}, journal = {Scientific Reports}, year = {2012}, volume = {2}, number = {1}, pages = {865}, month = {nov}, comment = {11}, doi = {10.1038/srep00865}, keywords = {bioimaging, quantum-sensing}, url_link = {https://www.nature.com/articles/srep00865}, url_pdf = {/files/2020/08/2012_Glenn_SciRep.pdf}, url_supplement = {/files/2020/08/2012_Glenn_SciRepSupp.pdf} }

Magnetic field imaging with nitrogen-vacancy ensembles. L. M. Pham, D. Le Sage, P. L. Stanwix, T. K. Yeung, D. Glenn, A. Trifonov, P. Cappellaro, P. R. Hemmer, M. D. Lukin, H. Park, A. Yacoby, and R. L. Walsworth. New Journal of Physics 13, 045021 (2011). link PDF
BibTeX
@article{Pham2011, eprint = {1207.3339}, archiveprefix = {arXiv}, sort_date = {2011-04-28}, sort_date_type = {journal-publication}, author = {Pham, L. M. and Sage, D. Le and Stanwix, P. L. and Yeung, T. K. and Glenn, D. and Trifonov, A. and Cappellaro, P. and Hemmer, P. R. and Lukin, M. D. and Park, H. and Yacoby, A. and Walsworth, R. L.}, title = {Magnetic field imaging with nitrogen-vacancy ensembles}, journal = {New Journal of Physics}, year = {2011}, volume = {13}, number = {4}, pages = {045021}, month = {apr}, comment = {04}, doi = {10.1088/1367-2630/13/4/045021}, keywords = {bioimaging, quantum-sensing}, url_link = {https://doi.org/10.1088%2F1367-2630%2F13%2F4%2F045021}, url_pdf = {/files/2020/08/2011_Pham_NJP.pdf} }

arXiv

Far-field optical imaging and manipulation of individual spins with nanoscale resolution. P. C. Maurer, J. R. Maze, P. L. Stanwix, L. Jiang, A. V. Gorshkov, A. A. Zibrov, B. Harke, J. S. Hodges, A. S. Zibrov, A. Yacoby, D. Twitchen, S. W. Hell, R. L. Walsworth, and M. D. Lukin. Nature Physics 6, 912–918 (2010). link PDF
BibTeX
@article{Maurer2010, sort_date = {2010-11}, sort_date_type = {journal-issue}, author = {Maurer, P. C. and Maze, J. R. and Stanwix, P. L. and Jiang, L. and Gorshkov, A. V. and Zibrov, A. A. and Harke, B. and Hodges, J. S. and Zibrov, A. S. and Yacoby, A. and Twitchen, D. and Hell, S. W. and Walsworth, R. L. and Lukin, M. D.}, title = {Far-field optical imaging and manipulation of individual spins with nanoscale resolution}, journal = {Nature Physics}, year = {2010}, volume = {6}, number = {11}, pages = {912--918}, month = {nov}, comment = {11}, doi = {10.1038/nphys1774}, keywords = {bioimaging, quantum-sensing}, url_link = {https://www.nature.com/articles/nphys1774}, url_pdf = {/files/2020/08/2010_Maurer_NatPhys.pdf} }

Quantum Diamond Microscope (QDM)

Functionalized Super-Resolution Imaging

Publications

2023

2018

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2011

2010