Ultrafast diffusion exchange nuclear magnetic resonance.

The exchange of molecules between different physical or chemical environments due to diffusion or chemical transformations has a crucial role in a plethora of fundamental processes such as breathing, protein folding, chemical reactions and catalysis. Here, we introduce a method for a single-scan, ultrafast NMR analysis of molecular exchange based on the diffusion coefficient contrast. The method shortens the experiment time by one to four orders of magnitude.

Ne and Xe NMR study of electric field gradients and multinuclear NMR study of the composition of a ferroelectric liquid crystal.

This study has two goals. First, the electric field gradient (EFG) present in the liquid-crystalline phases of ferroelectric FELIX-R&D is determined using NMR spectroscopy of noble gases Ne and Xe. The Ne and Xe NMR spectra were recorded over a temperature range, which covers all the mesophases of FELIX-R&D: nematic N, smectic A, and smectic C.

Identification of Intracellular and Extracellular Metabolites in Cancer Cells Using C Hyperpolarized Ultrafast Laplace NMR.

Ultrafast Laplace NMR (UF-LNMR), which is based on the spatial encoding of multidimensional data, enables one to carry out 2D relaxation and diffusion measurements in a single scan. Besides reducing the experiment time to a fraction, it significantly facilitates the use of nuclear spin hyperpolarization to boost experimental sensitivity, because the time-consuming polarization step does not need to be repeated. Here we demonstrate the usability of hyperpolarized UF-LNMR in the context of cell metabolism, by investigating the conversion of pyruvate to lactate in the cultures of mouse 4T1 cancer cells.

Structure and dynamics elucidation of ionic liquids using multidimensional Laplace NMR.

We demonstrate the ability of multidimensional Laplace NMR (LNMR), comprising relaxation and diffusion experiments, to reveal essential information about microscopic phase structures and dynamics of ionic liquids that is not observable using conventional NMR spectroscopy or other techniques.

Reliable and practical methods for cryopreservation of embryogenic cultures and cold storage of somatic embryos of Norway spruce.

Somatic embryogenesis (SE) is considered as the most-effective method for vegetative propagation of Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst). For mass propagation, a cryopreservation method able to handle large numbers of embryogenic tissues (ETs) reliably and at low costs is needed.

Ultrafast NMR diffusion measurements exploiting chirp spin echoes.

Standard diffusion NMR measurements require the repetition of the experiment multiple times with varying gradient strength or diffusion delay. This makes the experiment time-consuming and restricts the use of hyperpolarized substances to boost sensitivity. We propose a novel single-scan diffusion experiment, which is based on spatial encoding of two-dimensional data, employing the spin-echoes created by two successive adiabatic frequency-swept chirp π pulses.

Ultrafast Multidimensional Laplace NMR Using a Single-Sided Magnet.

Laplace NMR (LNMR) consists of relaxation and diffusion measurements providing detailed information about molecular motion and interaction. Here we demonstrate that ultrafast single- and multidimensional LNMR experiments, based on spatial encoding, are viable with low-field, single-sided magnets with an inhomogeneous magnetic field. This approach shortens the experiment time by one to two orders of magnitude relative to traditional experiments, and increases the sensitivity per unit time by a factor of three.

Ultrafast multidimensional Laplace NMR for a rapid and sensitive chemical analysis.

Traditional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy relies on the versatile chemical information conveyed by spectra. To complement conventional NMR, Laplace NMR explores diffusion and relaxation phenomena to reveal details on molecular motions. Under a broad concept of ultrafast multidimensional Laplace NMR, here we introduce an ultrafast diffusion-relaxation correlation experiment enhancing the resolution and information content of corresponding 1D experiments as well as reducing the experiment time by one to two orders of magnitude or more as compared with its conventional 2D counterpart.

Ultrafast two-dimensional NMR relaxometry for investigating molecular processes in real time.

Nuclear spin-lattice (T1) and spin-spin (T2) relaxation times provide versatile information about the dynamics and structure of substances, such as proteins, polymers, porous media, and so forth. Multidimensional experiments increase the information content and resolution of NMR relaxometry, but they also multiply the measurement time. To overcome this issue, we present an efficient strategy for a single-scan measurement of a 2D T1-T2 correlation map.

Velocity distributions in a micromixer measured by NMR imaging.

Velocity distributions (so-called propagators) with two-dimensional spatial resolution inside a chemical micromixer were measured by pulsed-field-gradient spin-echo (PGSE) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). A surface coil matching the volume of interest was built to enhance the signal-to-noise ratio. This enabled the acquisition of velocity maps with a very high spatial resolution of 29 μm × 39 μm.

Nanoscale cellulose films with different crystallinities and mesostructures--their surface properties and interaction with water.

A systematic study of the degree of molecular ordering and swelling of different nanocellulose model films has been conducted. Crystalline cellulose II surfaces were prepared by spin-coating of the precursor cellulose solutions onto oxidized silicon wafers before regeneration in water or by using the Langmuir-Schaefer (LS) technique. Amorphous cellulose films were also prepared by spin-coating of a precursor cellulose solution onto oxidized silicon wafers.

Experimental and quantum-chemical determination of the (2)H quadrupole coupling tensor in deuterated benzenes.

Deuterium Quadrupole Coupling Constant (DQCC) in benzene was determined both experimentally by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy in Liquid Crystalline solutions (LC NMR) and theoretically by ab initio electronic structure calculations. DQCCs were measured for benzene-d(1) and 1,3,5-benzene-d(3) using several different liquid crystalline solvents and taking vibrational and deformational corrections into account in the analysis of experimental dipolar couplings, used to determine the orientational order parameter of the dissolved benzene. The experimental DQCC results for the isotopomers benzene-d(1) and 1,3,5-benzene-d(3) are found to be 187.

Monitoring of fluid motion in a micromixer by dynamic NMR microscopy.

The velocity distribution of liquid flowing in a commercial micromixer has been determined directly by using pulsed-field gradient NMR. Velocity maps with a spatial resolution of 29 microm x 43 microm were obtained by combining standard imaging gradient units with a homebuilt rectangular surface coil matching the mixer geometry. The technique provides access to mixers and reactors of arbitrary shape regardless of optical transparency.