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

本项目旨在开发基于多重量子核磁共振和光谱成像的新型功能磁共振成像，以跟踪水的“有序”结构，并利用它来了解健康和病理组织的生理过程。1)双量子滤波核磁共振成像技术的发展：我们推出了H-1层选择性双量子滤波核磁共振成像技术（H-1 DQF MRI），可以选择性地描绘生物组织中的有序水（结合水），也开发了H-1和H-2光谱双量子滤波核磁共振成像技术（H-1和H-2 DQF CSI），可以通过分子动力学的选择性窗口来描绘一定分子环境中的水。2)可变角度加载孔H-2/H-1探针的研制：为了可视化束缚水的宏观有序，需要测量静磁场作用下不同角度的弛豫时间和剩余四极子（或偶极子）分裂。我们建立了世界上第一个用于H-2/H-1核磁共振的可变角度加载孔探针，它可以对直径为1.0 cm的软骨样品施加高达0.75 MPa的静载荷。3) H-2/H-1 DQF CSI关节软骨胶原结构可视化：在完整的牛关节软骨中，我们可以描绘出表面、切线、深层和钙化区的胶原结构，对胶原结构在静载荷下变形的观察和分析正在进行中，预计在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.