Vizualising brain activity

The Biomag project develops measuring instruments to investigate and diagnose brain diseases.
Curious? Feel free to get in touch.

About

The Ultra-sensitive Bio-Magnetometers with Macro to Nano Resolution project (Biomag) aims to develop an instrument that can be used by general practitioners to detect and diagnose patients with brain diseases earlier, more accurately, and cheaper. 

The project will develop sensors that can scan the activity of the brain's neurons to provide a detailed picture of the brain's condition. The sensors will be able to measure the brain's magnetic field at room temperature without affecting the brain. 

The team will investigate how optical and magnetic properties in two-dimensional nanomaterials can be used to create new types of sensors. These will make it possible to 'see' how neurons interact, contributing to the diagnosis and development of treatments for brain diseases.  

Sensing tiny magnetic fields can detect brain diseases

Brain disorders such as epilepsy, post-traumatic stress, and traumatic brain injury account for around a third of all long-term illnesses, and the cost of diagnosis and treatment is around €7 trillion a year in Europe alone and rising. 

Brain disorders are associated with abnormal neuronal activity in the brain. The resolution of existing instruments, such as MRI scanners, is not high enough to see how individual neurons in the brain interact with each other. 

The current that runs along the neuron creates a weak magnetic field - 10 million times weaker than the Earth’s magnetic field. By measuring this magnetic field brain diseases can be detected earlier than possible today. 

Contact

Project Manager

Christina Fuhr Bisgaard

Christina Fuhr Bisgaard Project Coordinator Department of Energy Conversion and Storage Mobile: +45 42808414

PI, Project leader

Nini Pryds

Nini Pryds Head of Section, Professor Department of Energy Conversion and Storage Mobile: +45 22195752

Research

Biomag will design and create small-size, lightweight, and wearable magnetic sensors with high sensitivity by developing two types of sensors sensitive enough to measure when small numbers of neurons communicate inside our brains. Together, the sensors provide the needed range of sensitivity and spatial resolution to gain a deeper understanding of how neuronal networks function.

Two types of sensors

One sensor will be based on the so-called extraordinary magnetoresistance (EMR) effect. EMR is a geometric effect occurring only in hybrid devices consisting of a semiconductor like silicon and metals and relies on macroscopically altering the trajectory of the electrons. This type of device will be designed to provide extreme levels of sensitivity with a spatial resolution of 10 micrometres and above at room temperature. With sensors like this, we could measure tiny activity changes in local brain areas.

Another sensor, using magnetically sensitive defects in 2D materials, will provide high levels of sensitivity down to the nanometer scale. Colour centers with unpaired electrons emerged among the most precise nanoscale magnetometers due to their property to be optically polarized and read out via photoluminescence, allowing them to infer the local magnetic field.

2D Materials

The performance of both sensor types will be enabled by 2D materials, which will be tailored with imperfections to create functionality such as magnetic defects or fast electron trajectories provided by controlling the lattice at the atomic level.

In Biomag, we will use the most famous 2D materials – graphene - within which electrical currents can move faster than in any other material, to create superior EMR devices. Computer algorithms will calculate the exact shape of the devices, which we already know can boost the magnetic field sensitivity by 100.000. 

Biomag also focuses on beyond-graphene 2D materials, such as hexagonal boron-nitride and other 2D insulators. Using high-throughput ab initio calculations we identify promising point defects in these 2D materials and subsequently demonstrate their performance in magnetic field sensing experiments.  

To push the detection limits, arrays of these sensing elements will be designed and fabricated to produce real-time maps of neurons in action. With a sensitivity and resolution that breaks all existing limits. This will pave the way for non-invasive recording movies of bundles of neurons in action, up to 1000 frames a second, and with opportunities for rendering 3D images.

Biomag will invent hybrid magnetic sensors that can scan the activity of the brain's neurons to provide a detailed picture of the brain's condition. It can be used by general practitioners to detect and diagnose patients with brain diseases earlier, more accurately, and cheaper.
When the brain's neurons transmit data, a weak magnetic field is generated. Measuring it will allow the mapping of neuronal activity in the brain. By measuring this brain diseases can be detected earlier than possible today.
The sensor will consist of a magnetoresistance sensor (EMR) and defective color-centric 2D materials (CC), for practical detection of these magnetic fields. The project will develop sensors that can measure 1/1000 change in the brain’s magnetic field.

Research focus

The challenges in magnetometry are situated at the interface between biology, materials science, physics, and nanotechnology. In this project, an interdisciplinary group of experts in theory, 2D materials, sensors, and bio-sensing have joined forces.

The research is divided into three main tracks: 

Track 1

1. Extraordinary magnetoresistance

Designing, fabricating, and testing an extraordinary magnetoresistance sensor (EMR). 

  • Develop EMR sensors capable of detecting neurons
  • Obtain the world’s largest (finite) magnetoresistance
  • Identify materials for high-performing EMR devices
  • Fabricate EMR devices with high yield
  • Construct a sensor (CC and EMR) with the ability to image neuron activity
     

Track 2

2. Colour Centers

Finding, producing, and exploring colour centers (CC). 

  • Identify new colour centres in existing/new materials
  • Understand and explore their magnetic and optical properties
  • Fabricate such colour centres with high yield
  • Explore these colour centres for single photon generation and/or sensing
  • Reach an unprecedented level of sensitivity to magnetic fields
  • Construct a sensor (CC and EMR) with the ability to image neuron activity
 

Track 3

3. Neuronal activity

Measuring neuronal activity (Neuro).

Provide biological models that:

  • Perform bio-measurements with the ultra-sensitive bio-magnetic sensor
  • Stay alive for several hours
  • Produce “strong” magnetic fields
  • Are robust: repetitive activation to average weak fields
  • Reproducible
  • Allow a low distance between tissue and sensors

People in the project

Track Lead

Dennis Valbjørn Christensen

Dennis Valbjørn Christensen Senior Researcher Department of Energy Conversion and Storage Mobile: +45 20961946

Modelling and design


Team of Rasmus Bjørk, Pl
Rasmus Bjørk

Rasmus Bjørk Professor Department of Energy Conversion and Storage Phone: +45 46775895 Mobile: +45 21325054

Sreejith Sasi Kumar

Sreejith Sasi Kumar PhD Student Department of Energy Conversion and Storage Mobile: +45 93513495

Fabrication and testing


Team of Dennis Valbjørn Christensen, PI
Dennis Valbjørn Christensen

Dennis Valbjørn Christensen Senior Researcher Department of Energy Conversion and Storage Mobile: +45 20961946

Thierry Désiré Pomar

Thierry Désiré Pomar Postdoc Department of Energy Conversion and Storage Mobile: +45 52619235

Huyen Nguyen

Huyen Nguyen Postdoc Department of Energy Conversion and Storage Mobile: +45 31964975

Stefan Pollok

Stefan Pollok Postdoc Department of Energy Conversion and Storage Mobile: +45 91370065

Tristan Steegemans

Tristan Steegemans PhD student Department of Energy Conversion and Storage Mobile: 91 37 00 99

Former members
  • Damon J. Carrad, Development engineer
Team of Thomas Sand Jespersen, Pl
Thomas Sand Jespersen

Thomas Sand Jespersen Professor Department of Energy Conversion and Storage Mobile: +45 28570164

Dags Olsteins

Dags Olsteins Postdoc Department of Energy Conversion and Storage Mobile: 91 69 69 43

Oliver Liebe

Oliver Liebe PhD student Department of Energy Conversion and Storage Mobile: +45 93596808

2D materials


Team of Peter Bøggild, PI
Peter Bøggild

Peter Bøggild Professor, Section leader Department of Physics Mobile: +45 21362798

Manh-Ha Doan

Manh-Ha Doan Researcher Department of Physics

Former members
  • Bowen Zhou, Postdoc

Track Lead

Alexander Huck

Alexander Huck Associate Professor Department of Physics Phone: +45 45253343

Modelling


Team of Kristian Sommer Thygesen, PI
Kristian Sommer Thygesen

Kristian Sommer Thygesen Professor, Section leader Department of Physics Mobile: +45 93511668

Manjari Jain

Manjari Jain Postdoc Department of Physics

Kartikeya Sharma

Kartikeya Sharma PhD Student Department of Health Technology

Former members
  • Jiban Kangsabanik, Postdoc
  • Fredrik Andreas Nilsson, Postdoc

2D materials


Team of Tim Booth, PI
Timothy John Booth

Timothy John Booth Associate Professor Department of Physics Phone: +45 45256888

Cheng Xiang

Cheng Xiang Postdoc Department of Physics

Nolan Lassaline

Nolan Lassaline Postdoc Department of Physics

Matías Vázquez

Matías Vázquez Postdoc Department of Physics

Former members
  • Leonid Iliushyn, PhD
  • Edwin Dollekamp, postdoc
  • Jeppe Ormstrup, postdoc
  • Ganesh Ghimire, postdoc
    •  

Color center experiments and neuro interface


Team of Alexander Huck, PI

Ulrik Lund Andersen, PI

Alexander Huck

Alexander Huck Associate Professor Department of Physics Phone: +45 45253343

Ulrik Lund Andersen

Ulrik Lund Andersen Professor Department of Physics Mobile: +45 29856067

Ilia Breev

Ilia Breev Postdoc Department of Physics Mobile: +4571680422

Eric Brand

Eric Brand PhD student Department of Energy Conversion and Storage

Former members
  • Ilya Radko, postdoc
  • Rasmus Høy Jensen, postdoc
  • James Luke Webb, postdoc

Track Lead

Jean-Francois Perrier

Jean-Francois Perrier Associate Professor UC Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen Mobile: +45 23812746

Neuronal Signaling


Team of Jean-Francois Perrier, PI
Jean-Francois Perrier

Jean-Francois Perrier Associate Professor UC Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen Mobile: +45 23812746

Nikolaj Winther Hansen

Nikolaj Winther Hansen Postdoc Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen

Joakim Palmqvist

Joakim Palmqvist Research Assistant Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen Mobile: +45 35325596

Former members
  • Silas Dalum Larsen, Research Assistant

Themes

The research will be divided into four themes: Theory, materials, sensors and sensing.

Theme 1

Theory - Density Functional Theory and Topology Optimization

The first theme focuses on the computational search for sensitive magnetometry, with two specific objectives.

The first objective is to use quantum mechanical computer simulations to map the magneto-optical properties of thousands of prospective 2D defect colour centers. The goal is to identify the most promising candidates for magnetic sensing, which requires defects or particles with sharply defined energy levels that are robust against environmental interactions but sensitive to local magnetic fields. The goal is also to systematically search for new useful quantum defects.

The second objective is to design an optimal magnetic field sensor using the resistive properties of different materials. The idea is to put together such that their combined geometry results in a sensor in which the resistance depends very strongly on the magnetic field in which the sensor is placed. This is known as an EMR sensor, and its physics can be well described in a numerical model. Therefore, simulations can be used to design a sensor with a much higher sensitivity to magnetic fields than present-day sensors.

Project Leaders

  • Nini Pryds (Pl)
  • Kristian Sommer Thygesen (Team Pl) 
  • Rasmus Bjørk (Team Pl)

Theme 2

Materials - 2D material fabrication

The second theme focuses on developing tailored two-dimensional (2D) materials for enhancing the performance of magnetometry. 

2D materials offer record-high carrier mobility, which promotes the high performance of EMR devices. As high-mobility 2D materials (such as graphene) are characterised by ballistic (rather than diffusive) transport, the use of topology optimisation raises interesting fundamental questions that we seek to answer. 
New colour centers in 2D materials that challenge the performance of diamond NV centers with higher sensitivity and optical contrast will be identified and tested.

The goal is to leverage 2D materials’ exceptional properties and spatial engineerability to create device concepts with ultrahigh magnetoresistance performance. 

Project Leaders

  • Peter Bøggild (Pl)
  • Tim Booth (Team Pl) 
  • Thomas Sand Jespersen (Team Pl)

 

Theme 3

Sensors - EMR sensors and Colour Centres in 2D materials

The third theme focuses on the performance evaluation of new magnetometer designs within the Biomag project. Utilizing computational search and tailored 2D materials, the objective is to evaluate the performance of newly designed magnetometers that operate at room temperature. 

Project Leaders

  • Alexander Huck (Pl)
  • Ulrik Lund Andersen (Team Pl) 
  • Dennis V. Christensen (Team Pl)

 

Theme 4

Bio-sensing - Magnetic sensing of biological systems

The fourth theme addresses the challenges and advancements in bio-magnetometry.  

Measuring the weak magnetic fields produced by neuronal currents in the brain requires developing ultra-sensitive bio-magnetic sensors that operate at room temperature. It revolutionizes the field by enabling non-invasive, real-time monitoring of neuronal activity without cryogenic cooling. This can greatly enhance our understanding of brain processes and disorders, leading to better diagnostic tools and treatments for neurological conditions.

Project Leader

  • Jean-Francois Perrier (Pl)

 

Biomag themes and structure visualised (PDF)

Publications

Enhancing the extraordinary magnetoresistance by variations in geometry and material properties
Erlandsen, R. S. (2022)
Technical University of Denmark, 2022. 109 p.

Partners

DTU logo
University of Copenhagen logo

Funding

The Biomag project was funded with DKK 60 million by the Novo Nordisk Foudation Challange Programme 2021.

The project started January 1st, 2022, and will run until December 31th, 2027. 

Grant reference no: NNF21OC0066526

NNF logo