Development of Multiple Quantum NMR Spectroscopy and Imgaing : Imaging Application on Bound Water in Biological Systems.

该项目的目的是基于多量子NMR和光谱成像开发新的功能性MR成像，以遵循水的“有序”结构，并使用它来了解健康和病理组织中的生理过程。1）开发双量子滤波器NMR成像：介绍了H-1切片选择性双量子滤波核磁共振成像（H-1 DQF MRI），描绘了有序水（结合水）在生物组织中选择性地，并开发了H-1和H-2光谱双量子滤波NMR成像（H-1和H-2 DQF CSI），通过分子动力学的选择窗口描述了水在一定分子环境中的状态。2）可变角加载池H-2/H-1探针：为了直观地观察束缚水的宏观有序性，需要测量弛豫时间和在不同角度下的残余四极子（或偶极子）分裂。我们已经建立了世界上第一个用于H-2/H-1 NMR的可变角度加载细胞探针，它可以对直径为1.0 cm的软骨样品施加高达0.75 MPa的静态载荷。3）通过H-2/H-1 DQF CSI显示关节软骨中的胶原结构：在完整的牛关节软骨中，我们可以描绘出表层、切线、深层和钙化区的胶原结构，胶原结构在静态载荷下的变形观察和分析正在进行中，可能在2001年完成。

The Aims of this project is development of new functional MR imaging based on the multiple quantum NMR and the spectroscopic imaging to follow "order" structure of water and to use it to understand physiological processes in healthy and pathological tissues.1) Development of double-quantum-filter NMR imaging : We have introduced H-1 slice selective double-quantum-filter NMR imaging (H-1 DQF MRI) which depicted ordered water (bound water) in biological tissues selectively, and also developed H-1 and H-2 spectroscopic double-quantum-filter NMR imaging (H-1 and H-2 DQF CSI) which depict water in a certain molecular environment through selective window of molecular dynamics.2) Development of variable-angle loaded-cell H-2/H-1 probe : In order to visualize macroscopic order of the bound water, it is necessary to measure relaxation time and residual quadrapoler (or dipoler) splitting in various angle against the static magnetic field. We have built the world-first variable-angle loaded-cell probe for H-2/H-1 NMR, which can apply a static load up to 0.75 MPa to the cartilage sample with 1.0 cm in diameter.3) Visualization of collagen structure in the articular cartilage by H-2/H-1 DQF CSI : In the intact bovine articular cartilage, we can depict the collagen structures in the superficial, tangenital, deep and carcified zones, Observation and analysis on the deformation of collagen structures under static loading are under going, and might be finished in 2001.