Magnify - Creating the hyperpolarization battery to magnify NMR signals and improve analysis

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Chemical analysis is integral to understanding materials and their production. Consequently, it is a key technology that underpinsEurope's chemical and pharmaceutical sectors. We seek here to change the way we analyse materials, biological processes, catalysisand reactivity using magnetic resonance (MR). This will involve creating the hyperpolarisation battery (HB) via parahydrogen, whosesubsequent discharge will magnify MR responses to facilitate previously impossible measurements.Through this lens, the low cost identification and quantification of molecules and their roles in catalysis will become possible. This willlead to faster analyses, improved catalysts and methods to transform chemicals manufacture thereby creating new commercialopportunities and improving research efficiency. Catalysis produces 80% of industrially relevant chemicals and pharmaceuticals, andaccounts for 20-30% of world gross domestic product. Europe is a leading player here, but this position needs strengthening toaddress challenges by China, the USA and Japan. Our methods also lie on the path to creating highly visible contrast agents forimproved disease diagnosis and treatment by MRI. The HB dovetails therefore with a need to support aging populations and addressconditions like cancer and neurodegenerative disorder.Creating a versatile HB will involve a synthetic programme, magnetic field analysis and detailed optimisation. We must define itschemical nature, optimise charging from parahydrogen gas and ensure its charged lifetime allows isolation from parahydrogen toovercome existing safety, solvent and selectivity limitations. Sensitisation through discharge of the isolated HB must broaden scopeto enable studies of catalysis, pharmaceutical preparations and potential MRI contrast agents. By breaking the link to parahydrogen,solvent and reaction diversity is assured; the now controllable properties of the HBs will define scope and the final hyperpolarisationoutcome.