Quantitative biosensor detection by chemically exchanging hyperpolarized 129Xe.

Chemical sensors informing about their local environment are of widespread use for chemical analysis. A thorough understanding of the sensor signaling is fundamental to data analysis and interpretation, and a requirement for technological applications. Here, sensors explored for the recognition and display of biomolecular and cellular markers by magnetic resonance and composed of host molecules for xenon atoms are considered. These host-guest systems are analytically powerful and also function as contrast agents in imaging applications. Using nuclear spin hyperpolarization of 129Xe and chemical exchange saturation transfer the detection sensitivity is orders of magnitude enhanced in comparison to conventional 1H NMR. The sensor signaling reflects this rather complex genesis, furthering the mere qualitative interpretation of biosensing data; to harvest the potential of the approach, however, a detailed numerical account is desired. To this end, we introduce a comprehensive expression that maps the sensor detection quantitatively by integration of the hyperpolarization generation and relaxation with the host-xenon exchange dynamics. As demonstrated for the host molecule and well-established biosensor cryptophane-A, this model reveals a distinguished maximum in sensor signaling and exerts control over experimentation by dedicated adjustments of both the amount of xenon and the duration of the saturation transfer applied in a measurement, for example to capitalize on investigations at the detection limit. Furthermore, usage of the model for data analysis makes the quantification of the sensor concentration in the nanomolar range possible. The approach is readily applicable in investigations using cryptophane-A and is straightaway adaptable to other sensor designs for extension of the field of xenon based biosensing.

Para-hydrogen induced polarization in multi-spin systems studied at variable magnetic field.

A theoretical description of para-hydrogen-induced polarization (PHIP) is developed, applicable to coupled multi-spin systems that are polarized at an arbitrary magnetic field. Scalar spin-spin interaction is considered to be the leading factor governing PHIP formation and transfer. At low magnetic fields, these interactions make the spins strongly coupled and cause efficient, coherent re-distribution of spin polarization. We describe the effects of strong coupling and field cycling for a three-spin system and compare calculated spectra with the experimental examples available. By using a fast field-cycling device, which shuttles the whole NMR probe, and thereby makes high-resolution NMR detection at high field possible, we studied PHIP patterns for a set of different fields between 0.1 mT and 7 T. PHIP spectra were measured for ethylbenzene as the product of a catalytic reaction between para-hydrogen and styrene. Additionally, the polarizations of ethylbenzene bound to the catalyst, and of the starting styrene molecule were analyzed. This is the first time that the full field dependence of PHIP has been determined experimentally. The spectra obtained are in perfect agreement with the simulations for the CH(2) and CH(3) protons of ethylbenzene and even for its weakly-polarized aromatic protons. Analysis of styrene polarization shows that the time profile of the field variation has pronounced effects on the PHIP pattern. Our study gives evidence that scalar spin-spin interactions determine the PHIP patterns. Possible applications of the theory are discussed.