Generating highly polarized nuclear spins in solution using dynamic nuclear polarization

• Published in: Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment, 2004-06, Vol.526 (1), p.173-181
• Main Authors: Wolber, J., Ellner, F., Fridlund, B., Gram, A., Jóhannesson, H., Hansson, G., Hansson, L.H., Lerche, M.H., Månsson, S., Servin, R., Thaning, M., Golman, K., Ardenkjær-Larsen, J.H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Accelerator Physics and Instrumentation; Acceleratorfysik och instrumentering; Dynamic nuclear polarization; Fysik; Hyper polarization; imaging; magnetic resonance; Magnetic resonance imaging; Natural Sciences; Naturvetenskap; NMR spectroscopy; Physical Sciences
• ISSN: 0168-9002; 0167-5087; 1872-9576
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nima.2004.03.171

A method to generate strongly polarized nuclear spins in solution has been developed, using Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (DNP) at a temperature of 1.2 K , and at a field of 3.354 T , corresponding to an electron spin resonance frequency of 94 GHz . Trityl radicals are used to directly polarize 13 C and other low-γ nuclei. Subsequent to the DNP process, the solid sample is dissolved rapidly with a warm solvent to create a solution of molecules with highly polarized nuclear spins. Two main applications are proposed: high-resolution liquid state NMR with enhanced sensitivity, and the use of the hyperpolarized solution as an MR imaging agent.