Advances in parahydrogen-enhanced nuclear magnetic resonance

Abstract

Nuclear magnetic resonance is a powerful spectroscopic tool, which has found applications in fields such as chemistry, the life sciences, medical imaging, and even fundamental physics, but is often limited by the low polarization of nuclear spins in ambient conditions. Hyperpolarization techniques are used to increase the spin polarization, which can lead to large signal enhancements. In the context of magnetic resonance imaging, this can allow for in vivo observation of metabolites at physiological concentrations, which would otherwise not be possible given current sensitivity limits.This thesis describes a number of hyperpolarization methods and their applications to in vivo imaging, with particular emphasis on parahydrogen-induced hyperpolarization. This technique allows for the production hyperpolarized samples via chemical reaction with a specific spin-isomer of hydrogen gas. Theory and experiments for producing hyperpolarized samples are described that advance this methodology towards eventual clinical applicatio