Molecular quantum nanosensors functioning in living cells

Quantitatively mapping temperature within living cells is essential for understanding subcellular biophysical processes; however, existing intracellular quantum sensors such as nanodiamonds with nitrogen-vacancy centers, quantum dots and fluorescent proteins face limitations in material heterogeneity, cytotoxicity, and thermometric specificity. Here, we present molecular quantum nanosensors (MQNs) as a next-generation platform for intracellular quantum sensing. MQNs embed pentacene molecular spin qubits within para-terphenyl nanocrystals coated with Pluronic F127, yielding a coherent spin system with molecular-level uniformity and long spin coherence times under physiological conditions. By chemically suppressing hyperfine interactions, we enhance spectral resolution and demonstrate spatially resolved absolute temperature sensing inside the nuclei of living cells. MQNs thus offer a chemically tunable, biologically compatible platform for quantum-level detection of thermal and biochemical states of intracellular environments.

定量绘制活细胞内的温度分布，对于解析亚细胞生物物理过程至关重要；然而现有细胞内量子传感器，如携带氮空位中心的纳米金刚石、量子点与荧光蛋白，均存在材料异质性、细胞毒性及测温特异性不足等局限。本研究提出分子量子纳米传感器（molecular quantum nanosensors，MQNs）作为新一代细胞内量子传感平台。该传感器将并五苯分子自旋量子比特（spin qubits）嵌入经泊洛沙姆F127（Pluronic F127）包覆的对三联苯纳米晶体中，构建出在生理条件下具备分子级均一性与长自旋相干时间的相干自旋系统。通过化学手段抑制超精细相互作用，我们提升了光谱分辨率，并实现了活细胞细胞核内的空间分辨绝对温度传感。综上，MQNs 提供了一种化学可调控、生物相容性优异的平台，可用于量子级检测细胞内环境的热与生化状态。