Spin Biology under Optimal Quantum Control
Abstract
@@@ht underlie many relevant biological processes, from exquisite magnetic field detection for animal navigation, to metabolic regulation in cells and optimal electron transport in chiral biomolecules. Spin measures how some quantum objects (e.g., electron, atomic nuclei) interact with, and react to, magnetic fields. Importantly, and even if pioneering studies were developed in the context of magnetoreception (MR) for organismal navigation (such as birds, butterflies and turtles), many physiologically relevant chemical reactions are known to be magnetic field-dependent via spin degrees of freedom. Such biological magnetosensing (MS) phenomena have seldomly been investigated in vivo and at the nanoscale.The fact that a truly quantum mechanism could provide an essential benefit to life processes is an astonishing hypothesis, as it suggests that organisms are, at least for a short time, behaving as living quantum sensors. Astoundingly, these quantum sensors appear to even surpass humankind-made devices, despite being embedded in a noisy, hot and wet biological environment, rather than a shielded cryostat at near-zero temperature. This indicates that, not only could establic probes that mimic living quantum sensors, and the harnessing of quantum degrees of freedom to commandeer and drive physiology.This proposal aims to utilize tools from the coherent control of open quantum systems to, for the first time, realize the latter prospect at the nanoscale. In particular, we will develop instruments in which external electromagnetic stimulation will purposefully influence, and eventually control, spin in biological reaction processes. This will allow us to overcome a current dilemma of the field known as quantum biology: traditional approaches at disjoint length scales (experiments with proteins in solution accompanied by experiments with whole organisms) make it difficult, if not impossible, to unambiguously link these quantum processes to specific physiological reactions. Current experiments do not address important details (for ex., which spins species are involved and how they cope with environmental noise) neither are designed to provide systematic knowledge. Conversely, and by design, our approach is to utilize spin as a tool in biology and medicine by developing electromagnetic handles on in vivo biological spin processes at the nanoscale under a Total Internal Reflection Microscope, thereby bridging the length scale gap and providing some much needed systematization.With systematized knowledge of spin effects at the nanoscale, selective stimulation or suppression of cellular functions that respond to electromagnetic fields is possible. For example, magnetic field and radiofrequency excitation could be applied in vivo and, in principle, via remote instructions, so as to reduce uncontrolled reactive oxygen species (ROS) proliferation (a hallmark of metabolic and degenerative diseases as well as reperfusion injury); or enhance it (to boost immune responses, locally or on the entire organism); besides, electron signaling through proteins could be made pathologically weak or strong by molecular design. In order words, our long-term goal is thus to master organismic behavior and metabolic function via the control of electromagnetic-responsive pathways (both endogenous and bioengineered), using the sensitivity of spin-tailored electromagnetic field excitation.We focus this project on questions whose answers are ambiguous given current instrumentation. Our high-tech experiments will unequivocally confirm or refute, systematize, and eventually control biological spin pathways using electromagnetic radiation.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jan 06, 2021
- Source ID
- N000142114011
Entities
People
- Clarice D. Aiello
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of California, Los Angeles