Tackling Sensitivity and Spectral Crowding: Establishing Portable Low-Field Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (NMR) as an Essential Scientific Tool

该项目专门解决需要改进的基础科学，以克服关键障碍，进而使小型化便携式低场核磁共振谱(核磁共振)成为现实。核磁共振光谱学是现代科学中最强大的检测器，能够检测和定量复杂混合物或生命系统中的任何有机分子。然而，研究仪器通常耗资数百万美元，并使用无法移动的大型超导磁铁。虽然核磁共振可以在低场便携式永磁体上进行，但灵敏度低，光谱重叠，目前阻碍了它的广泛应用。在这项研究中，通过开发微线圈阵列来解决灵敏度问题，而通过只针对感兴趣的化合物的新的光谱概念来解决重叠问题，从而消除了重叠。SyneX医疗公司的长期目标是在该项目的基本成果的基础上，最终开发出可穿戴的核磁共振技术，以监测体内的代谢物过程。这种技术可用于监测/诊断疾病或跟踪任何影响新陈代谢的过程，如节食或锻炼。环境核磁共振中心(多伦多大学)的最终目标是使技术适应环境应用。一个例子是对光谱过滤器进行预编程，以选择感兴趣的水生污染物，然后将微型传感器放入地下水中，以进行经济、实时和无人值守的含水层监测。虽然核磁共振中心的目标是环境应用，而SyneX的目标是医疗应用，但基础科学和微线圈技术对于这两种应用都是相同的，并构成一般移动核磁共振开发的基础。

This project specifically tackles the fundamental science that requires improvement to overcome key hurdles and in turn make miniaturized portable low-field Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (NMR) a reality. NMR spectroscopy is the most powerful detector in modern science with the ability to detect and quantify any organic molecules in complex mixtures or in living systems. However, research instruments typically cost $millions and use large super conducting magnets that cannot be moved. While NMR can be performed on low field portable permanent magnets, low sensitivity and spectral overlap, currently hamper its wide spread application. In this research, sensitivity is addressed through the development of microcoil arrays, while overlap is tackled through new spectroscopic concepts that target only the compounds of interest thus negating overlap. The long term aims of Synex Medical are to build upon the fundamental results from this project to eventually develop wearable NMR technology to monitor metabolite processes in-vivo. Such technology could be used to monitor/diagnose disease or track any process that impacts metabolism such as dieting or exercise. The Environmental NMR Center's (University of Toronto) ultimate goal is to adapt the technology for Environmental applications. One example would be to pre-program the spectroscopic filters to select for aquatic contaminants of interest and then drop the tiny sensors into groundwater for economical, real-time and unmanned aquifer monitoring. While the NMR center's goal is environmental applications and Synex's goal is medical applications, the fundamental science and microcoil technology would be identical for both applications, as well as form the basis for the development of mobile NMR in general.