Metabolic Reactions Studied by Zero- and Low-Field Nuclear Magnetic Resonance

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates the feasibility of using zero- and low-field nuclear magnetic resonance to study key metabolic reactions, overcoming sensitivity limitations of traditional high-field MRI and enabling new biomedical imaging possibilities.

Contribution

It introduces a novel application of zero- and low-field NMR for metabolic reaction analysis, expanding the potential for biomedical imaging in conductive or inhomogeneous environments.

Findings

Zero- and low-field NMR can detect metabolic conversions.

Successful measurement of fumarate to malate conversion.

Detection of pyruvate to lactate conversion.

Abstract

State-of-the-art magnetic resonance imaging uses hyperpolarized molecules to track metabolism in vivo, but large superconducting magnets are required, and the strong magnetic fields largely preclude measurement in the presence of conductive materials and magnify problems of magnetic susceptibility inhomogeneity. Operating at zero and low field circumvents these limitations, but until now has not been possible due to limited sensitivity. We show that zero- and low-field nuclear magnetic resonance can be used for probing two important metabolic reactions: the conversion of hyperpolarized fumarate to malate and pyruvate to lactate. This work paves the way to a heretofore unexplored class of biomedical imaging applications.