PhD Thesis Defense - Uri Zvi

Engineering Quantum Nanoprobes for Monitoring Cellular Processes

Bridging Quantum Coherence and Cellular Complexity

The ability to monitor biological signals with high spatial and temporal precision is central to understanding complex cellular behavior. In recent years, quantum sensors based on nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond have emerged as powerful tools for detecting magnetic, electric, and thermal phenomena at the nanoscale. However, realizing their full potential in biological systems requires bridging a wide gap—between the pristine, isolated environments of solid-state quantum devices and the noisy, dynamic world of living matter. 

In this talk, I present a multi-pronged strategy to bring quantum sensing into the biological realm using diamond nanocrystals (DNCs). I first identify and mitigate surface-induced decoherence through core–shell nanostructures that enhance charge and spin stability. I then investigate how DNCs interact with biological systems, demonstrating improvements in biocompatibility and surface functionalization. Beyond engineering, I show that properly accounting for sensor–environment interactions enables dynamic, real-time tracking of cellular states. I apply this approach to detect metabolic changes associated with immune cell inflammation and resolve longstanding controversy surrounding single-cell thermogenesis. Finally, I discuss how we are moving toward high-throughput quantum sensing to enable monitoring and manipulating functional activity, stress responses, and disease progression at subcellular levels.