Radiation-detected NMR: new dimension for Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy and imaging

Project Information

RD-NMR

Grant agreement ID: 101113553

DOI

10.3030/101113553

Project closed

EC signature date 22 February 2023

Start date 1 March 2023

End date 31 August 2024

Funded under

• European Research Council (ERC)

Total cost

No data

EU contribution

€ 150 000,00

Coordinated by

ORGANISATION EUROPEENNE POUR LA RECHERCHE NUCLEAIRE
Switzerland

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - RD-NMR (Radiation-detected NMR: new dimension for Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy and imaging)

Reporting period: 2023-03-01 to 2024-08-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is a powerful spectroscopic technique, used in various fields, including chemistry, biology and medicine. However, it suffers from a low level of spin polarisation and inefficient signal detection by an induction in pick-up coils. Our team has started addressing this challenge by exploring limits of radiation-detected NMR (RD-NMR) in which the signal is recorded as change in asymmetric emission of beta radiation from unstable nuclei. These novel NMR probes bring up to a billion-fold increase in sensitivity.
So far, we have used very short-lived nuclei produced at a radioactive ion beam facility, ISOLDE. Within this project we have explored the prospect of turning RD-NMR into a more easily accessible analytic tool using commercially available unstable nuclei that can be used in NMR/MRI setups that are not located directly at the production site.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

We have worked on a prototype of a modular insert for conventional NMR and MRI spectrometers that should allow in-situ polarisation of longer-lived PET nuclei that can be acquired commercially. The system’s main components including beta detectors, rf generation and pick-up electronics, and polarising agent and radioactive isotope, have been tested on 13N (with polarisation using para-hydrogen), as it can probe different parameters of its environment, such as pH, redox, and concentration of reactive oxygen species, or metal ions. In addition, we have built two NMR systems compatible with our approach: a system for polarisation and NMR at extremely low magnetic fields (below earth’s field) and at 1.2 T. We have also explored other polarisation paths and other PET isotopes for their use in RD-NMR. As a result, we have started working on polarisation of 18F, in addition to 13N.
We have organised a 2-day workshop with prospective share-holders of our new technology and we are following up on the ideas that the even generated.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Our project has shown paths how to prepare efficiently PET isotopes as MRI contrast agents. To explore them in full, more research will be needed. We have made an experimental setup for RD-NMR studies that will allow measurements in commercial MRI magnets.
in the future, we should be able to perform MRI studies in unprecedented sensitivity, using isotopes already used for PET imaging.