A method for C(alpha) direct-detection in protonless NMR

Attempts are made to efficiently decouple (13)C nuclei without significant loss of coherence during the application of the decoupling package. Such attempts are based on the S(3)E spin-state selection method. A newly developed double S(3)E (DS(3)E) is particularly efficient for C(alpha) detection for proteins as large as 480 kDa.     

Experimental evidence of chiral crown ether complexation with aromatic amino acids

The complexation of L ‐ and D ‐enantiomers of phenylglycine, phenylalanine, and tryptophan with D ‐mannonaphto‐crown‐6‐ether in methanol solution was studied by NMR and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) at 298.15 K. The total heat effects attributed to the binding phenomena were measured in the range of 1.8 to 7.7 mJ, and the complexation was found stereo‐specific. The binding topologies were estimated basing on ¹H 2D‐ROESY experiments. The analysis of Job plots obtained from ¹H NMR‐monitored titrations proved the coexistence of 1:1 and 1:2 (crown ether:amino acids) complexes, which thermodynamic parameters, K_s, ΔG, ΔH°, and TΔS were determined with the aid of ITC. The 1:1 complexes were found enthalpically stabilized, generally by electrostatic interactions between the charged NH group of amino acid and crown ether macrocyclic moiety, while the binding of the second amino acid molecule was driven entropically due to solvatophobic effect. Strong enthalpy–entropy compensation points towards the uniform binding mode of all complexes studied. The mode of complex formation was found solvent dependent. For phenylalanine guest studied in various solvent systems, in contrast to the aqueous media, the noticeable chiral recognition is observed in methanol solution, and the complex stoichiometry (1:2 ether:Phe) differs from the 2:1 one, determined previously for the same host‐guest system in water (J. Thermal. Anal. Cal. 2006; 83: 575–578). Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

DOUBLESLICING: a non-iterative single profile multi-exponential curve resolution procedure. Application to time-domain NMR transverse relaxation data

A new non-iterative curve resolution technique for resolving single decay profiles is proposed. The new technique, called DoubleSlicing, is based on the Decra (Direct Exponential Curve Resolution Algorithm) principle. While the original Decra was designed to resolve several decay curves simultaneously and thus fitting common pure exponentials, DoubleSlicing can resolve single decay profiles by a simple double data transformation followed by an analytical and unique three-way decomposition. The new approach is successfully demonstrated on experimental NMR CPMG relaxation data, measured on combinations of unmixed paramagnetic CuSO(4) solutions. Decay signals of the water component were acquired following an innovative experimental design that ensured no interaction between the components present in each sample under observation. DoubleSlicing proved to be accurate in estimating relaxation times differing in one order of magnitude (range: 19.6-159.4ms). Its performance was comparable to discrete exponential fitting with the advantage of being much faster - in terms of computation time, DoubleSlicing outperformed exponential fitting by a factor of four.     

Slow turning reveals enormous quadrupolar interactions (STREAQI)

We introduce a new solid-state NMR method, which uses very slow sample rotation to visualize NMR spectra whose width exceeds feasible spectrometer bandwidths. It is based on the idea that if we reorient a tensor by a known angle about a known axis, the shifts in the NMR frequencies observed across the spectral width allow us to reconstruct the entire tensor. Called STREAQI (Slow Turning Reveals Enormous Anisotropic Quadrupolar Interactions), this method allows us to probe NMR nuclei that are intractable to current methods. To prove the concept and demonstrate its promise we have implemented the method for several 79Br containing samples with quadrupolar coupling constants in the range of 10-50 MHz.     

Investigations of silicone breast implants with the NMR-MOUSE

Silicone breast implants are used for breast augmentation and breast reconstruction. The issues of concern associated with such implants are: (a) the quality control of each implant before implantation, and (b) the detection of implant bleeding after implantation. We have studied the use of the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance-MObile Universal Surface Explorer (NMR-MOUSE) for the nondestructive testing of (a) the quality of implant shells, and (b) changes in implant gel due to leakage of body fluid into the implant. Depth profiles measured nondestructively through implant shells at different positions of each implant by the Profile NMR-MOUSE assured good reproducibility of the quality and thickness of different shell layers. The leakage of implants upon rupture was mimicked by observing changes in the transverse NMR relaxation time of the implant gel upon ingress of physiological saline solution and safflower oil through the rupture. Results demonstrate that nondestructive testing with unilateral NMR is a potential method for use in the quality control of implants and for the screening of implants for rupture after implantation.     

The heterogeneous distribution of the liquid phase in partially filled porous glasses and its effect on self-diffusion

The spatial distribution of the liquid phase in a typical, partially filled, porous glass (VitraPor #5) has been examined with the aid of magnetic resonance microscopy and field gradient nuclear magnetic resonance diffusometry techniques. The correlation length of the material turned out to be long enough to permit the visualization of the microscopic heterogeneity of the material by magnetic resonance imaging. Contrasts are dominated by transverse relaxation depending on local filling degree, which in turn depends on local microstructure. The bimodal heterogeneity of the latter was also visualized by scanning electron microscopy. The effect of heterogeneity on an effective diffusion coefficient has been examined for polar (water) and nonpolar (cyclohexane) molecules.     

基于神经网络的NMR谱图自动相位校正综合算法

目前,已有多种算法被应用在核磁共振谱图自动相位校正中,由于各种算法本身特性和所基于谱图的具体特性的差异,不同算法对于特征不同的谱图的适用性也各不相同. 针对这一情况,文在综合研究多种现有自动相位校正算法的基础上,提出了一种基于神经网络的,可以根据谱图的特征来选取最合适的算法进行自动相位校正的综合算法. 实验表明,本算法可以获得比以往方法更好的计算结果.     

表面活性剂及水溶性功能高分子的NMR研究

核磁共振（NMR）技术是研究表面活性剂在溶液中聚集状态的一种非常有用的工具,本文运用多种NMR技术研究了几种不同类型表面活性剂及水溶性功能高分子在水溶液中的聚集行为： 1. 季铵盐型双子表面活性剂16-4-16的聚集行为季铵盐型双子表面活性剂N,N′-双(十六烷基二甲基)-α,ω-丁烷溴化铵(16-4-16)分子中联接基团及靠近离子头的质子位于胶束的壳层, 运动受到一定限制. 而距离离子头较远的烷烃链位于胶束的内部,运动相对自由. 与对应的单链表面活性剂十六烷基三甲基溴化铵(CTAB)相比,16-4-16形成的胶束堆积更为紧密. 通过NOESY谱中交叉峰强度的定量计算,认为16-4-16在胶束中分子以上下交错排列的方式形成球形聚集体.  2. 脱氧胆酸钠与十六烷基三甲基溴化铵的相互作用在脱氧胆酸钠(NaDC)溶液中,NaDC质子H3与其他质子不同,其横向弛豫时间(T₂)表现为双指数衰减,表明此质子可能存在两种不同的状态. 实验证明,其它胆酸盐的H3的横向弛豫也呈现双指数衰减. 因此推测在胆酸盐的稀溶液中,3-OH质子和羰基氧之间有可能存在氢键作用,形成了头尾相连的分子对结构.  在NaDC和CTAB的混合溶液中,两者形成1∶1的混合胶束. 用NOESY和ROESY研究混合胶束的结构,显示CTAB的离子头位于NaDC的羧酸基团附近. 这可能是正负离子之间的静电性相互作用的结果.  3. 丙烯酰胺/丙烯酸模板共聚物的微结构研究了不同pH值条件下,丙烯酰胺和丙烯酸共聚物分子在水溶液中的聚集形态. 在酸性溶液中,分子内的氢键致使聚集体形成较为紧密的堆积,侧链的苯氧基团运动受阻;随着溶液pH值的增大,丙烯酸电离产生的阴离子使得分子间的静电斥力增大,分子链变得伸展,分子间的氢键作用导致了聚集体体积变大. 当溶液呈强碱性,丙烯酸完全电离,氢键作用力被破坏,分子呈现自由伸展的状态,侧链的苯氧基团运动相对自由.     

单链和gemini表面活性剂的NMR研究

应用核磁共振技术,对几种典型的表面活性剂在水溶液中的聚集行为、结构特征、动力学特性和相互作用等进行了研究. 
利用1D ¹H NMR方法测得4-癸基萘磺酸钠（SDNS）在313 K温度时的临界胶束浓度（CMC）在0.82~0.92 mmol/L之间,与报道的298 K时的CMC范围相同. 弛豫时间和2D NOESY实验结果表明,与298 K时的SDNS胶束相比,313 K温度时,SDNS胶束中烷烃链排列得更紧密,其中与萘环相连的第一和第二个亚甲基参与了胶束紧密层的形成,更紧密地堆积在萘环之间. SDNS质子T₂值随温度的变化表明,在单体和胶束两种状态下,质子运动对温度的敏感性明显不同. 由自扩散系数分析得到,SDNS胶束的水合半径约为其单体水合半径的5.3倍. 而在十二烷基磺酸钠（SDSN）胶束中,由于静电排斥力的作用,在同样温度下SDSN的胶束紧密层排列比SDNS更疏松. 
NMR实验表明,在SDNS/Triton X-100 (TX-100)和SDNS/SDSN体系中形成了混合胶束. 在SDNS/TX-100混合胶束中,TX-100的苯环靠近SDNS的烷烃链,而它的聚烷氧链除与苯环相连的第一个乙氧基基团以外都被限制在SDNS的萘环附近. 在SDNS/SDSN混合胶束中,SDSN的磺酸基比SDNS分子更靠近胶束内部. 而SDNS的萘环将SDSN的磺酸基分隔开,在降低带负电荷的磺酸基极性头之间的静电排斥力中起到了积极的作用,有助于混合胶束的形成.
从自扩散系数、横向弛豫和质子距离等NMR测定参数推测,在浓度为0.26 mmol/L（318 K）的N,N′-双(十六烷基二甲基)-α,ω-丙烷溴化铵(16-3-16)溶液中形成了近似球形的胶束,胶束表面的带正电荷的铵基极性头呈锯齿状排列以减弱分子间静电排斥力的影响. 弛豫时间测定表明,与N,N′-双(十六烷基二甲基)-α,ω-丁烷溴化铵(16-4-16)相比,16-3-16在胶束表面的spacer链段更僵硬, 在胶束核区的烷烃侧链排列的更紧密. NMR共振峰的线形分析表明,16-3-16和16-4-16侧链末端的甲基在胶束中位于两个不同的位置. 