Real-time measurement of mitochondrial temperature with fluorescent nanodiamond

The National Institute of General Medical Sciences awarded Adamas Nanotechnologies, Inc. $306,872 on July 1, 2026, under the Biomedical Research and Research Training program (CFDA 93.859) to develop a real-time measurement system for mitochondrial temperature using fluorescent nanodiamonds with nitrogen-vacancy centers.

The Phase I effort will explore the feasibility of using nitrogen-vacancy centers in nanodiamonds in combination with a highly sensitive lock-in camera to monitor the temperature of isolated mitochondria. Nitrogen-vacancy centers possess magneto-optical properties that alter their fluorescence output in response to low-power microwaves at specific frequencies; the specific frequency is temperature-responsive, allowing the NV center to serve as a nanoscale temperature sensor. Current methods of monitoring mitochondrial temperature are subject to artifacts leading to controversial interpretations in the biomedical community. The ultimate goal following Phase I is development of an instrument for imaging mitochondrial temperature at cellular and subcellular levels. Understanding mitochondrial temperature as a metabolic biomarker is important because dysfunctional mitochondria exhibit altered heat production and bioenergetics implicated in diseases including Alzheimer's disease, cancer, and diabetes.

Adamas Nanotechnologies, a for-profit manufacturer of nanodiamond-based quantum sensing materials based in Raleigh, North Carolina, is the recipient. Performance takes place in Raleigh, NC 27617. The period of performance runs from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028.

Abstract

Mitochondria are critically important cell organelles colloquially referred to as the powerhouses of the cell. Dysfunctional mitochondria can exhibit altered bioenergetics, which can lead to systemic issues in health. For example, age related degradation of mitochondria is hypothesized to be a cause of alzheimer's disease. Dysfunctional mitochondria are also implicated with diseases such as cancer or diabetes. Understanding the metabolic state of mitochondria is thus an important biomarker of health, and mitochondria are increasingly being investigated as therapeutic targets. When mitochondria become dysfunctional, they can exhibit altered bioenergetics, and this can manifest with altered heat production. Heat can account for a large amount of the energy released by mitochondria as they produce ATP. Hence, temperature can be an important indicator in the assessment of the metabolic state of mitochondria. Current methods of monitoring mitochondrial temperature are subject to artifacts that have led to controversial interpretations in the biomedical community. Thus, a novel modality to monitor mitochondrial temperature is needed. This phase I effort will explore the feasibility of using nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in nanodiamonds (NDNVS) in combination with a highly sensitive lock- in camera for wide field of view monitoring the temperature of isolated mitochondria. NV centers have unique magneto-optical properties that cause their fluorescence output to be altered in response to low power microwaves at specific frequencies. The specific frequency is responsive to temperature allowing the NV center serve as a nanoscale sensor of temperature. After demonstrating the feasibility in phase I, the ultimate goal in phase II will be the development of an instrument for imaging of mitochondrial temperature at a cellular and subcellular level. This capability can potentially unlock new mechanisms of mitochondrial function in cells and their behavior upon treatment with specific therapeutic agents. The proposed efforts could have significant translational impact in both basic biological research and drug development. The technical team at adámas has extensive experience in both ND materials as well as instrumentation for utilizing ndnv in sensing applications. The team will leverage its combined experience with an ultimate goal of producing a commercially viable instrument for BIO-community to assess mitochondria (and, more generally, cellular) temperature in live cells. The project will also involve intensive professional development of the principal investigator (PI) as part of the entrepreneurial development aspect of the proposal. The PI will develop the necessary skills to transition from a basic scientist to an independent technology commercialization lead via intensive mentoring provided at adámas and the NIH I-corps program.