‘Artificial atoms’ allow for sensing magnetic fields of
individual cells February 13, 2013 Researchers in Spain and
Australia have developed a new technique that similar to MRI but
with the high resolution and sensitivity need to scan individual
cells. The researchers, from the Institute of Photonic Sciences
(ICFO), in collaboration with the CSIC and Macquarie University
in Australia, are led by ICFO Prof. Romain Quidant. They used
“artificial atoms” — diamond nanoparticles doped with nitrogen
impurity — to probe very weak magnetic fields such as those
generated in some biological molecules. A conventional MRI
registers the magnetic fields of atomic nuclei in our bodies
which have been previously excited by an external
electromagnetic field. The collective response of all of these
atoms makes it possible to diagnose and monitor the evolution of
certain diseases. However, MRI is limited to a resolution of
millimeters. The new technique extends the resolution at the
nanometer scale (nearly one million times sma