A hyperpolarized equilibrium for magnetic resonance

作者：Hoevener Jan Bernd; Schwaderlapp Niels; Lickert Thomas; Duckett Simon B; Mewis Ryan E; Highton Louise A R; Kenny Stephen M; Green Gary G R; Leibfritz Dieter; Korvink Jan G; Hennig Juergen; von Elverfeldt Dominik

来源：Nature Communications, 2013, 4: 2946.

DOI：10.1038/ncomms3946

Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and imaging (MRI) play an indispensable role in science and healthcare but use only a tiny fraction of their potential. No more than approximate to 10 p. p. m. of all H-1 nuclei are effectively detected in a 3-Tesla clinical MRI system. Thus, a vast array of new applications lays dormant, awaiting improved sensitivity. Here we demonstrate the continuous polarization of small molecules in solution to a level that cannot be achieved in a viable magnet. The magnetization does not decay and is effectively reinitialized within seconds after being measured. This effect depends on the long-lived, entangled spin-order of parahydrogen and an exchange reaction in a low magnetic field of 10(-3) Tesla. We demonstrate the potential of this method by fast MRI and envision the catalysis of new applications such as cancer screening or indeed low-field MRI for routine use and remote application.

• 出版日期2013-12