Resonance-enhanced microfluidic impedance cytometer for detection of single bacteria.

This paper reports on a novel impedance-based cytometer, which can detect and characterize sub-micrometer particles and cells passing through a microfluidic channel. The cytometer incorporates a resonator, which is constructed by means of a discrete inductor in series with the measurement electrodes in the microfluidic channel. The use of a resonator increases the sensitivity of the system in comparison to state-of-the-art devices. We demonstrate the functionality and sensitivity of the cytometer by discriminating E. coli and B. subtilis from beads of similar sizes by means of the resonance-enhanced phase shift of the current through the microfluidic channel. The phase shift can be correlated to size and dielectric properties of the measured objects.

A multi-sample 94 GHz dissolution dynamic-nuclear-polarization system.

We describe the design and initial performance results of a multi-sample dissolution dynamic-nuclear-polarization (DNP) polarizer based on a Helium-temperature NMR cryostat for use in a wide-bore NMR magnet with a room-temperature bore. The system is designed to accommodate up to six samples in a revolver-style sample changer that allows changing samples at liquid-Helium temperature and at pressures ranging from ambient pressure down to 1 mbar. The multi-sample setup is motivated by the desire to do repetitive in vivo measurements and to characterize the DNP process by investigating samples of different chemical composition. The system can be loaded with up to six samples simultaneously to reduce sample loading and unloading. Therefore, series of experiments can be carried out faster and more reliably. The DNP probe contains an oversized microwave cavity and includes EPR and NMR capabilities for monitoring the DNP process. In the solid state, DNP enhancements corresponding to ∼45% polarization for [1-(13)C]pyruvic acid with a trityl radical have been measured. In the initial liquid-state acquisition experiments described here, the polarization was found to be ∼13%, corresponding to an enhancement factor exceeding 16,000 relative to thermal polarization at 9.4 T and ambient temperature.

A supplementary coil for ²H decoupling with commercial HCN MAS probes.

Partial deuteration is a powerful tool to increase coherence life times and spectral resolution in proton solid-state NMR. The J coupling to deuterium needs, however, to be decoupled to maintain the good resolution in the (usually indirect) (13)C dimension(s). We present a simple and reversible way to expand a commercial 1.3mm HCN MAS probe with a (2)H channel with sufficient field strength for J-decoupling of deuterium, namely 2-3kHz. The coil is placed at the outside of the stator and requires no significant modifications to the probe. The performance and the realizable gains in sensitivity and resolution are demonstrated using perdeuterated ubiquitin, with selectively CHD(2)-labeled methyl groups.