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

核磁共振波谱是确定分子结构的强大工具，也是磁共振成像技术的基础，磁共振成像技术现在是现代医学诊断学的一个既定特征。在该项目中，伊利诺伊大学芝加哥分校的石井吉隆教授和他的研究小组将在化学系化学结构、动力学和机理计划的支持下，开发大幅加速固体材料和生物分子的核磁共振谱的方法，这通常被称为固态核磁共振(SS核磁共振)。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，以便将数据收集的速度提高10-30倍。这项研究的另一个组成部分涉及13C样品浓缩，以便于在分子水平上对石墨烯/石墨基纳米材料，特别是石墨烯和氧化石墨进行SS核磁共振分析。石井教授的研究将推动核磁共振技术在不溶蛋白质和非晶体材料上的应用，这些材料无法用其他工具，如X射线结晶学进行分析。石井小组研究的进展可能会对基于核磁共振的技术的许多领域产生影响，包括纳米材料分析和核磁共振。石井教授将把他的研究整合到他的教育活动中，在研究生核磁共振课程中提供实践核磁共振实验，并在高年级本科生的物理化学实验室中提供实践核磁共振实验。石井教授还将在本科课程中开发磁共振实验，在现有的溶液样品光谱仪中加入一个梯度线圈。后续的练习将解决化学成像中使用的造影剂与核磁共振信号的松弛时间的相关性。最后，石井教授将参加伊利诺伊大学芝加哥分校的本科生夏季研究机会项目(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).