Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) is a technique in which nuclear spin is manipulated to reveal molecular structure and dynamics information with atomic resolution. In the case of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and microscopy, a picture of the spin density can be generated with 3D pixel (voxel) dimensions down to ~10 µm in each direction. Nearly all elements have at least one isotope whose nucleus has non-zero spin (a quantum mechanical property, given the symbol I), and thus NMR can potentially probe a wide variety of materials in gas, liquid, solution, and solid phases. The resonance frequency for each NMR-active nucleus is given by the product of the strength of the applied static magnetic field (B_o) and an isotope-dependent gyromagnetic ratio (γ), ω_o = g B_o. Our high field NMR system operates at 11.7 T, corresponding to a ¹H resonance frequency of 500 MHz. One caveat to NMR/MRI is that it is a relatively insensitive technique. For reasonable measurement times, typical limit of detection values include: low µM concentration for small molecules (<1500 Da), a few milligrams of material for large molecules in solution (e.g. proteins up to ~30 kDa), and several milligrams of material for solid samples.

1H (500 MHz) and ¹³C  (125 MHz). Liquid state samples could be extended to additional frequencies with consultation. MRI can be performed under the same conditions (volumes, frequencies) as the liquid state samples. Typical MRI resolutions are ~40 µm isotropic for reasonable measurement times.

We offer magnetic resonance spectroscopy (500, 80, 60 MHz) and imaging (11.7 T and 1 T).

Summary of the MR capabilities

High Field

Magnet  & console

• 11.7 T field strength
• 89 cm bore (wide-bore)
• Bruker AVANCE III console

RF channels

• 3x 1H / 19F
• 2x X
• 1x 2H

Probes

Micro5 microimaging probe

• 5 mm (1H/13C), 10 mm (1H) saddle coil inserts
• 3 T/m X/Y/Z gradient

HRMAS

• 4 mm rotors (up to ~12 kHz MAS)
• 1H/13C/2H
• Gradient

CapNMR

• Flow-probe, 10 µL detection volume
• 1H/13C/15N/2H

Software

• Spectroscopy: TopSpin 3.5
• Imaging: ParaVision 6.0

Overview of Technologies

CORREL integrates X-ray imaging (XRI), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy into a single platform. This unique correlative approach allows for the simultaneous acquisition of spatio-temporally resolved chemical information (NMR spectroscopy) and structural information (XRI, phase-sensitive XRI, MRI) from a single sample. This makes CORREL particularly useful for multi-modal imaging and spectroscopy across various length and time scales.

NMR focuses on manipulating nuclear spin to reveal molecular structure and dynamics with atomic resolution. It can also generate 3D images of spin density with voxel dimensions down to ~10 µm. NMR can probe a wide variety of materials in different phases (gas, liquid, solution, solid) and operates at high magnetic fields (up to 11.7 T), providing detailed molecular information.

Use Cases

CORREL is best suited for:

• Imaging large samples without the need for cutting
• Localized spectroscopy of large, heterogeneous samples
• Situations where simultaneous or correlated MR + X-ray measurements are beneficial

NMR is ideal for:

• High-resolution imaging and spectroscopy of smaller samples
• Detailed molecular structure and dynamics analysis
• Applications requiring superior spatial resolution and sensitivity

Considerations

• Sample Size: If the sample is large and cannot be cut, CORREL is the preferred choice due to its ability to accommodate larger samples.
• Imaging Quality: For superior imaging quality and spatial resolution, NMR is the better option due to its stronger magnetic field and gradient system.
• Multi-modal Analysis: If simultaneous acquisition of chemical and structural information is required, CORREL's integrated approach is advantageous.
• Nuclei Measurement: Both systems can measure 1H, but CORREL will soon support 7Li and 13C, which may influence the choice depending on the specific nuclei of interest.

Conclusion

The choice between CORREL and NMR depends on the specific scientific question and the requirements of the study. For large, heterogeneous samples and multi-modal analysis, CORREL is recommended. For high-resolution imaging and detailed molecular analysis, NMR is the better choice.