Applications of NMR

1
Applications of NMR

• Structure and function of macromolecules
• Metabolism
• Molecular fingerprint-identify presence/absence
  of molecules
• Imaging
• Diagnostic radiology

2
Spectroscopy

• Method that measures the interaction of
  electromagnetic radiation with matter.
• Radiation that is absorbed or emitted is detected
  and the output is called a spectrum.

3
Spectroscopy

• Type of Radiation
• X-ray
• UV/Vis
• Microwave
• Infrared
• Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS)

• Transition Energy
• Inner electrons of atoms
• Valence electrons
• Rotational
• Vibrational
• Magnetic states

4
MRS

• Chemical shift

5
1H Nuclei
6
1H Spectroscopy

• Toxicology
• Analyze body fluids for presence of chemical
  toxins
• Metabolic Disease
• Different diseases have characteristic spectral
  patterns which facility diagnosis of disease.

7
1H Spectroscopy

• Brain metabolism
• Measure metabolites such as
• N-acetylaspartate (NAA)
• creatine phosphocreatine (Cr PCr)
• choline-containing compounds (Cho)
• lactate

8
NAA

• Neuronal marker
• Loss of NAA indicated neuron loss or damage
• ? NAA observed with stroke, gliomas, and AIDS

9
MS, Epilepsy, and 1H MRS

• Multiple Sclerosis
• See increases
• Assess response to treatment
• Epilepsy
• Assessment of patients considered for surgical
  treatment
• Helps localize seizure focus

10
31P Nuclei
11
31P Spectroscopy

• Measure intracellular pH
• Energy metabolism
• Detect ATP, phosphocreatine, and inorganic
  phosphate
• Investigate changes in metabolism associated with
  exercise
• Investigate changes in metabolism associated with
  impaired oxygen delivery.

12
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

• Excellent contrast and spatial resolution

13
Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA)

• Used to visualize blood vessels and measure blood
  flow
• Time of flight
• Protons moving in blood distinguished from
  protons in stationary tissue
• Phase contrast
• Relies on phase shifts generated by blood flowing
  in a magnetic field gradient.

14
Vessel Abnormalities
A normal vessel B stenosis C occlusion D
aneurysm E arterio-venous malformations
15
Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

• Applications of PET
• Coronary Artery Disease
• Tumors
• Diseases of the Brain

16
Coronary Artery Disease
After heart attack
Normal heart
17
Detection of Tumors
Detection of mass missed by conventional imaging
18
Brain Diseases
Removal of indicated area relieved seizures