Sensitivity and Structure in Solid-State NMR of Biomolecules and Nano-structured Materials

核磁共振（NMR）光谱是用于确定分子结构的有力工具，并且是磁共振成像（MRI）技术的基础，该技术现在是现代医学诊断的既定特征。 在该项目中，在化学系化学结构、动力学和机制项目的支持下，伊利诺伊大学芝加哥分校的石井义隆教授和他的研究小组将开发大幅加速固体材料和生物分子核磁共振光谱的方法，通常称为固态核磁共振（SSNMR）。 拟议的工作将采用顺磁掺杂，非常快的魔角旋转和超高磁场，以提高数据收集的速度10-30倍。 研究的另一个组成部分涉及13 C样品富集，以促进石墨烯/石墨基纳米材料的SSNMR分析，特别是氧化石墨烯和氧化石墨，在分子水平上。 石井教授的研究将推进NMR技术在不溶性蛋白质和非晶体材料中的应用，这些材料无法通过其他工具（如X射线晶体学）进行分析。 石井小组研究的进展可能会对基于NMR的技术的许多领域产生影响，包括纳米材料分析和MRI。 石井教授将通过在研究生NMR课程中提供NMR实验，并在高年级本科生的物理化学实验室中提供NMR实验，将他的研究融入他的教育活动中。 石井教授还将在本科课程中通过将梯度线圈纳入现有的溶液样品光谱仪来开发MRI实验。 随后的练习将被开发，以解决化学成像中使用的造影剂与NMR信号的弛豫时间的相关性。 最后，石井教授将参加伊利诺伊大学芝加哥分校的本科生暑期研究机会计划（SROP）。

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is a powerful tool for determining the structure of molecules, and is the basis for the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology which is now an established feature of modern medical diagnostics. In this project, supported by the Chemical Structure, Dynamics, and Mechanisms Program of the Division of Chemistry, Prof. Yoshitaka Ishii of the University of Illinois at Chicago and his research group will develop methods to drastically accelerate NMR spectroscopy for solid materials and biomolecules, which is generally called solid-state NMR (SSNMR). The proposed work would employ paramagnetic doping, very fast magic angle spinning, and an ultra high magnetic field in order to increase the speeds of the data collection 10-30 fold. Another component of the research involves 13C sample enrichment to facilitate SSNMR analysis of graphene/graphite based nano materials, in particular, graphene oxide and graphite oxide, at molecular level. Prof. Ishii's research will advance NMR technology applications to insoluble proteins and non-crystalline materials which cannot be analyzed by other tools such as x-ray crystallography. Advances in the Ishii group research will likely have impacts in the many venues of NMR based technology, including nanomaterials analysis, and MRI. Professor Ishii will integrate his research into his educational activities by providing hands-on NMR experiments in a graduate NMR course, and in the physical chemistry laboratory for senior undergraduates. Professor Ishii will also develop MRI experiments in the undergraduate course by incorporating a gradient coil into an existing spectrometer for solution samples. Subsequent exercises will be developed that address the correlation of contrast-agent used in chemical imaging with relaxation time of an NMR signal. Finally, Professor Ishii will participate in the University of Illinois at Chicago's Summer Research Opportunities for Undergraduates Program (SROP).