Development of NV-Biosensor platform for quantum-based single molecule detection and its use to detect microRNAs and cortisol as human performance-based biomarkers.

The proposed NV-Biosensor project will demonstrate the use of advanced quantum sensing to monitor biomarkers of human performance. We will achieve the long-dreamed-of capability of sensing biological and chemical targets with single molecule sensitivity and this will radically alter how we use and monitor human performance biomarkers.  The NV-Biosensor will reduce diagnostic testing time from days to minutes, and make real-time, in-the-field, point of care possible, saving money, time, and lives.  Our technology will impact how the Air Force selects and trains candidates for special roles and activities and provide new means of using performance biomarkers to improve decision-making by our Airmen.  Our technology could monitor and prevent Airmen fatigue and illness or help their training for improved endurance.  The NV-Biosensor could be used to optimize individual health protocols and evaluate overall team performance.  In other areas the NV-Biosensor could be used to detect environmental factors such as chemical, biological, and radiological threats. The NV-Biosensor uses a fluorescent NV-center nanodiamond (FND) that is sensitive to magnetic fields.  When conjugated with a magnetic nanoparticle and single-strand nucleic acid, the NV-Biosensor shows tremendous promise for single molecule detection, based simply on monitoring changes in fluorescence in the presence/absence of a magnetic field.  The nucleic acid can be a DNA or RNA and can be designed to hybridize to a specific nucleic acid target or designed as an aptamer to bind to a protein or small molecule.  The NV-Biosensor will provide critical data by rapidly detecting minute changes of environmental and health biomarkers  Practically, this means that Warfighters can be monitored in real-time for infection, chem-bio exposure, stress levels, sleep deprivation, cardiac distress, cancer markers, and other physiological data while in the field.  The successful completion of this D2P2 will pave the way for predictive analytics of human performance using comprehensive real-time multi-biomarker monitors. Columbus NanoWorks will use the NV-Biosensors for detecting the microRNA, miR-21, and the glucocorticoid hormone, cortisol.  Both molecules are biomarkers of human performance that can be detected in human saliva and other body fluids.  As completely different molecules, their detection demonstrates the broad application of the NV-Biosensor technology for monitoring a host of different target molecules.  The deliverables for this project include results and reports on the design of the NV-Biosensor, a prototype point of care device for the NV-Biosensor, and a demonstration of the technology to the Air Force.  The long-term goal of this project is to develop a wearable NV-Biosensor for the Air Force and other Government organizations and develop a wearable product for the public which will bring together the fitness wearable market ($12B+ annually) and the biosensing market ($20.5B+ annually).