Researchers at Penn Engineering have made a groundbreaking advancement in nuclear quadrupolar resonance (NQR) spectroscopy, enabling the detection of signals from individual atoms. This innovation could significantly enhance drug development and disease understanding by allowing scientists to examine molecular interactions at the atomic level. Traditional methods relied on averaged signals from trillions of atoms, obscuring subtle variations critical in fields like protein research.
The breakthrough emerged during routine experiments with nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamonds, where unusual signals were observed. This prompted a reevaluation of historical concepts in nuclear magnetic resonance, revealing a mechanism that had been previously overlooked. Collaborating with experts from Delft University of Technology, the team developed a method with precision capable of capturing single atomic signals.
Lee Bassett, a senior author of the study, emphasized that this technique unveils discrete molecular properties that were previously hidden. Co-authors Alex Breitweiser and Mathieu Ouellet elaborated on the method’s potential, likening it to isolating individual data points from an average. This advancement opens new avenues in scientific research, presenting opportunities to explore previously inaccessible molecular phenomena. The findings were published in Nano Letters.
