HYPERPOLARIZED NMR
MADE SIMPLE
THE CHALLENGE
Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is one of the most powerful analytical techniques currently available (+10,000 devices worldwide), with applications in fields ranging from synthetic chemistry to clinical diagnosis. However, the low sensitivity of NMR spectroscopy is a critical drawback, requiring hours or even days of signal averaging to obtain a signal in some instances.
OUR SOLUTION
NVision Imaging Technologies is leveraging advances in quantum physics to increase the sensitivity of existing NMR spectroscopy devices by 150x and significantly shorten the detection cycle from days to minutes (when compared to current state-of-the-art devices).
With hyperpolarized NMR, the signal of the sample is increased by orienting a significant fraction of the nuclear spins to a single direction, thereby enhancing the sensitivity, also known as signal-to-noise ratio. It thus creates a (hyper)polarization larger than the baseline thermal equilibrium state by orders of magnitude.
Our technology enables the first room-temperature on-demand general purpose hyperpolarization method for NMR spectroscopy; no modifications are required to the customer’s existing NMR instrumentation and, unlike prior devices, the system is low-cost, has a small footprint and does not require onsite cryogenic cooling.
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Our vision: fast, distortion-free hyperpolarized solution-state NMR without hardware modifications to the spectrometer.
1
PREPARE
Prepare sample in NMR tube
2
POLARIZE
Use NVision's hyperpolarizer to rapidly enhance the MR signal of the analytes in the sample
3
SCAN
Analyze via standard NMR spectrometers
POTENTIAL FUTURE APPLICATIONS
Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is one of the most powerful analytical techniques currently available, with applications ranging from synthetic chemistry to clinical diagnosis. Hyperpolarization techniques have the potential to revolutionize the use of compact NMR by providing significant advantages in signal enhancement and measurement times.
Ethanol
Isopropanol
— thermally polarized
— hyperpolarized
ε
1H
≈ >150 [60 MHz]
≈ >20 [400 MHz, shown]
1
H Chemical Shift (ppm)
THF
DE-DF-TMM-Ph
Hyperpolarized NMR represents breakthrough opportunities for the fields of analytical and synthetic chemistry, in fields such as drug production or agrochemical research, and could create new markets in the point-of-service low-field applications such as early detection and diagnosis in intensive care units (ICUs).
THE MAGSENSE PROJECT
NVision Imaging Technologies' current work on hyperpolarized NMR is organized under the MAGSENSE project, a two-year project funded by the European Innovation Council as part of the EIC Transition program.
The overall objective of MAGSENSE is to fully develop hyperpolarization technology in order to to translate the NMR polarizer to real-world applications. The project anticipates impact in four key areas, introducing biomedical, societal, and financial benefits, while contributing to the strategic objective of the European Commission to kick-start a competitive quantum industry.
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The innovation at the center of the MAGSENSE project builds over a decade of cutting-edge research in quantum technologies, and NVision has been highlighted by the EIC as a success story in translating new technologies from lab to market for its prior work on hyperpolarization for magnetic resonance imaging.
ABOUT MAGSENSE
Project type: EIC Transition
Start date: 1 April 2023
End date: 31 March 2025
Financing: European Innovation Council (EIC)
Grant amount: €2.45 MM
Grant ID: 101113079
Project coordination: NVision Imaging Technologies GmbH
Ulm, Germany
PROJECT OBJECTIVES
The overall objective of MAGSENSE is to fully develop hyperpolarization technology and integrate it with NMR spectrometers, develop prototypes which can be placed in the labs of key opinion leaders for application and methodology development, and prepare for commercialization.
ABOUT NVISION IMAGING TECHNOLOGIES
NVision Imaging Technologies is at the forefront of PHIP-based hyperpolarized NMR, proven by a strong publication track record and a strong hyperpolarization IP portfolio. The company is deeply integrated into the NMR ecosystem in Europe, with a history of interdisciplinary collaboration within academia and industry. NVision is backed by leading deep-tech VC funds from the US and Europe and currently employs more than 40 physicists, engineers, and material scientists, including professionals with more than 10 years of experience in NMR research, technology development, and project management.
ABOUT EIC TRANSITION
EIC Transition is a funding programme under Horizon Europe targeting innovation activities that goes beyond the experimental proof of principle in laboratory. It supports both the maturation and validation of novel technologies from the lab to the relevant application environments.