Lead author Professor Rachel McKendry, Professor of Biomedical Nanotechnology at UCL and Director of i-sense EPSRC IRC, said: "Our proof-of-concept study shows how quantum technologies can be used to detect ultralow levels of virus in a patient sample, enabling much earlier diagnosis. Please enter the e-mail address you used to register to reset your password, Thank you for registering with Physics World This greater sensitivity allows lower viral loads to be detected, meaning the test could pick up lower levels of disease or detect the disease at an earlier stage, which is crucial for reducing transmission risk of infected individuals and for effective treatment of diseases such as HIV. Ray talks to fellow Canadian Hamish Johnston about his research in semiconductor nanowires, in particular for use in photonics and quantum computers, and also shares his experiences of working at JDS Uniphase during the telecoms boom. Quantum technology bridges both the properties of various nanomaterials and quantum mechanics. The researchers made use of the quantum properties of nanodiamonds manufactured with a precise imperfection. Financial support for ScienceDaily comes from advertisements and referral programs, where indicated. Quantum technology is realized because of the various nanomaterials that exhibit quantum effects. They are widely used to detect viruses ranging from HIV to SARS-CoV-2 (lateral flow tests for Covid-19 are currently being piloted across England) and can provide a rapid diagnosis, as the results do not have to be processed in a lab. The discovery last year that bilayer graphene can become a superconductor if the two graphene layers are twisted at the so-called magic angle of 1.1º won Physics World’s 2018 Breakthrough of the Year, and since then the race has been on to investigate other angle-dependent properties of twisted bilayer graphene. ScienceDaily. Note: Content may be edited for style and length. "We have focused on the detection of HIV, but our approach is very flexible and can be easily adapted to other diseases and biomarker types. ScienceDaily. 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The quantum sensing abilities of nanodiamonds can be used to improve the sensitivity of paper-based diagnostic tests, potentially allowing for earlier detection of diseases such as HIV, according to a study led by UCL researchers in the i-sense McKendry group. The NV centres can signal the presence of an antigen or other target molecule by emitting a bright fluorescent light. This defect in the highly regular structure of a diamond creates what is called a nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centre. Providing valuable careers advice and a comprehensive employer directory.