PhD defence
PhD defence by Maria Niora
On Thursday 30 January 2025, Maria Niora defends her PhD thesis "Fluorescent nanodiamonds as probes for biolabeling and quantum biosensing".
Time: 10:00
Place: Building 421, auditorium 71 &
zoom: https://dtudk.zoom.us/meeting/register/Qmga6sY5TeSgvgPrlQZRBg
Please be aware that the PhD defense may be recorded - This will also be informed at the beginning of the PhD defense.
Supervisor: Associate Professor Kirstine Berg-Sørensen
Co-supervisor: Associate Professor Mathilde Hauge Lerche
Co-supervisor: Associate Professor Martin
Assessment committee:
Associate Professor David Simpson, University of Melbourne
Senior Researcher Petr Cigler, Czech Academic of Sciences, Prague
Chairperson:
Associate Professor Emil Kromann, DTU Health Tech
Abstract:
Fluorescent nanodiamonds are carbon-based particles on the nanoscale with unique optomagnetic properties owed to nitrogen-vacancy centers embedded in the diamond lattice. Their fluorescence intensity is spin-dependent allowing for an optical reading of various physical and chemical quantities in their surroundings, with a wide range of applications from biology to quantum computing. This PhD thesis explores different applications of fluorescent nanodiamonds in biotechnology. These spanned from biolabeling single cells and multicellular tumor spheroids to quantum monitoring of biological processes in vitro. Based on the findings, the probes worked effectively as biomarkers and promising biosensors for cell differentiation of monocytes into macrophages. They also efficiently served as long-term tracers, enabling cell isolation from different spheroid layers, when applied in 3D tumor spheroids. Further, this thesis includes intracellular quantum measurements inside myeloid-derived immune cells to assess the abundance of free radicals and temperature in situ. The nanodiamonds were feasible biosensors of cellular functions, such as cell apoptosis and to time-point oxidative stress responses relevant to early-stage atherosclerosis. Together these findings display the versatility of FNDs in biological applications and lay the groundwork for future cell-studies.
A copy of the PhD thesis is available for reading at the department.