Nanoscale-Level Analysis of Human Cells Reveals Quantum Atoms

The researchers at the University of Melbourne have made a breakthrough discovery of a quantum atom inside a living human cell. This discovery could possibly be of help in the testing and development of new drugs.

Professor Lloyd Hollenberg from the physics department of the University explained that a single atom housed in a nanodiamond was used in the nanoscale level analysis of the living human cell. He added that the research findings would be extremely useful in breaking ground for a new class of quantum sensors that can aid in biological research. He claimed that the new sensor had the ability to investigate biological processes at molecular level, which would create a better understanding of how drugs work. The research findings have been published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology.

The research team comprised members from the departments of Physics, Chemistry and Biomolecular Engineering and the funding was taken care of by ARC Centre of Excellence for Quantum Computation and Communication Technology. A quantum physicist from the research team regarded the ability of the sensor to monitor the processes in a living cell as an important milestone. He was confident that future research based on their findings could pave way for new tools in nanomedicine and drug discovery.