We demonstrated single-photon emission from hBN color centers embedded inside live cells and their application to cellular barcoding. Each color center can exist in one out of 470 possible distinguishable states. A combination of a few color centers per cell can be used to uniquely tag virtually an unlimited number of cells. This barcoding technique is superior to others in almost all respects, including ease of production by a single-step procedure, biocompatibility and biodegradability, emission stability, no photobleaching, small size and a huge number of unique barcodes.
|