Exploring the Potential of Broadband Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor Micro-Coil Nuclear Magnetic Resonance for Environmental Research.

With sensitivity being the Achilles' heel of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), the superior mass sensitivity offered by micro-coils can be an excellent choice for tiny, mass limited samples such as eggs and small organisms. Recently, complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS)-based micro-coil transceivers have been reported and demonstrate excellent mass sensitivity. However, the ability of broadband CMOS micro-coils to study heteronuclei has yet to be investigated, and here their potential is explored within the lens of environmental research.

NMR spectroscopy of a single mammalian early stage embryo.

The resolving power, chemical sensitivity and non-invasive nature of NMR have made it an established technique for in vivo studies of large organisms both for research and clinical applications. NMR would clearly be beneficial for analysis of entities at the microscopic scale of about 1 nL (the nanoliter scale), typical of early development of mammalian embryos, microtissues and organoids: the scale where the building blocks of complex organisms could be observed. However, the handling of such small samples (about 100 µm) and sensitivity issues have prevented a widespread adoption of NMR.