In medicine, iron deficiency caused by poor nutrition can lead to anemia, while a sudden rise in blood iron levels often indicates inflammation. Because of this, measuring blood iron content has become a crucial diagnostic tool. Recently, researchers at the University of Ulm in Germany have taken a major step forward in this field by using nanodiamonds as sensors to enhance the accuracy of iron detection.
The project was led by physicist Fedor Jelezko, theoretical physicist Martin Plenio, and chemist Tanja Weil, with significant funding from the European Research Council—€10.3 million in total. Their findings were published in the journal *Nano Letters*.
According to Tanja Weil, iron in the body exists mainly in compound forms, and determining whether iron levels are normal involves measuring free iron. Free iron is highly reactive and potentially toxic, which is why traditional blood tests usually avoid directly measuring it due to technical limitations. Instead, most methods rely on proteins like ferritin, which stores over 4,500 iron atoms. These tests often use immunological techniques, but variations in operator technique can lead to inconsistent results, causing confusion in diagnosis.
To address these challenges, the team at Ulm developed a new method called the nanodiamond sensor assay. The key idea is that each ferritin molecule generates a tiny magnetic field. However, because there are only about 4,500 iron atoms per ferritin molecule, the signal is extremely weak. Detecting such a small magnetic field requires a highly sensitive sensor, and that’s where nanodiamonds come into play.
The nanodiamonds used in the study are not flawless, colorless diamonds. Instead, they contain lattice defects that make them optically active, allowing them to emit light in specific colors. These defects are essential for sensing magnetic fields. By using the color centers in the nanodiamonds, researchers can detect the direction of electron spins in the magnetic field generated by ferritin, enabling precise measurement of its size.
Additionally, the team solved the issue of ferritin binding to the diamond surface by using electrostatic interactions. This ensures that the ferritin molecules are properly positioned for accurate measurement.
Martin Plenio emphasized the importance of theoretical modeling in ensuring that the data collected aligns with real-world conditions. He noted that this is critical for proving the effectiveness of the nanodiamond sensor technology.
Looking ahead, the research aims to determine the exact amount of ferritin and iron ions in each protein. The breakthrough in nanodiamond-based biosensors has the potential to revolutionize medical diagnostics, making blood iron level testing more accurate and reliable. As a result, future medical diagnoses could be significantly improved. (Based on the article "Spinach and Nanodiamonds? Nanodiamond Biosensor for Detection of Iron-Level in Blood")
Analytical Balance
An analytical balance is a highly precise laboratory instrument used to measure the mass or weight of samples with high accuracy and precision. It is commonly used in analytical chemistry, pharmaceuticals, and other scientific fields where precise measurements are required. Analytical balances typically have a readability of 0.1 milligrams (0.0001 grams) or less and are designed to minimize external factors that may affect the measurement, such as air currents and temperature fluctuations. They often use a draft shield to protect the sample from external influences and have a built-in calibration system to ensure accurate readings. Analytical balances can be operated manually or electronically, and some models are equipped with advanced features such as automatic calibration, data storage, and connectivity to a computer or other devices.
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