The world as viewed by and with unpaired electrons

EPR Everywhere

This review is inspired by the contributions from the University of Denver group to low-field EPR, in honor of Professor Gareth Eaton's 80th birthday. The goal is to capture the spirit of innovation behind the body of work, especially as it pertains to development of new EPR techniques. The spirit of the DU EPR laboratory is one that never sought to limit what an EPR experiment could be, or how it could be applied. The most well-known example of this is the development and recent commercialization of rapid-scan EPR. Both of the Eatons have made it a point to remain knowledgeable on the newest developments in electronics and instrument design. To that end, our review touches on the use of miniaturized electronics and applications of single-board spectrometers based on software-defined radio (SDR) implementations and single-chip voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) arrays. We also highlight several non-traditional approaches to the EPR experiment such as an EPR spectrometer with a "wand" form factor for analysis of the OxyChip, the EPR-MOUSE which enables non-destructive in situ analysis of many non-conforming samples, and interferometric EPR and frequency swept EPR as alternatives to classical high Q resonant structures.

Quo vadis EPR?

Complexity of paramagnetic catalysts and materials increases, and the same applies to systems targeted by integrative structural biology. Hence, EPR spectroscopists must find ways to enhance information content of their data. I argue that a third major wave of method development in EPR spectroscopy, which is triggered by recent advances in digital electronics and computing, can achieve this. Transfer of NMR methods to EPR will go on, but part of the new EPR methodology will depend on completely new concepts.

Electrodynamics and radiofrequency antenna concepts for human magnetic resonance at 23.5 T (1 GHz) and beyond

OBJECTIVE

This work investigates electrodynamic constraints, explores RF antenna concepts and examines the transmission fields (B 1 (+) ) and RF power deposition of dipole antenna arrays for (1)H magnetic resonance of the human brain at 1 GHz (23.5 T).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Electromagnetic field (EMF) simulations are performed in phantoms with average tissue simulants for dipole antennae using discrete frequencies [300 MHz (7.0 T) to 3 GHz (70.0 T)]. To advance to a human setup EMF simulations are conducted in anatomical human voxel models of the human head using a 20-element dipole array operating at 1 GHz.

RESULTS

Our results demonstrate that transmission fields suitable for (1)H MR of the human brain can be achieved at 1 GHz. An increase in transmit channel density around the human head helps to enhance B 1 (+) in the center of the brain. The calculated relative increase in specific absorption rate at 23.5 versus 7.0 T was below 1.4 (in-phase phase setting) and 2.7 (circular polarized phase setting) for the dipole antennae array.

CONCLUSION

The benefits of multi-channel dipole antennae at higher frequencies render MR at 23.5 T feasible from an electrodynamic standpoint. This very preliminary finding opens the door on further explorations that might be catalyzed into a 20-T class human MR system.

Injectable LiNc-BuO loaded microspheres as in vivo EPR oxygen sensors after co-implantation with tumor cells

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) oximetry is a technique which allows accurate and repeatable oxygen measurements. We encapsulated a highly oxygen sensitive particulate EPR spin probe into microparticles to improve its dispersibility and, hence, facilitate the administration. These biocompatible, non-toxic microspheres contained 5-10 % (w/w) spin probe and had an oxygen sensitivity of 0.60 ± 0.01 µT/mmHg. To evaluate the performance of the microparticles as oxygen sensors, they were co-implanted with syngeneic tumor cells in 2 different rat strains. Thus, tissue injury was avoided and the microparticles were distributed all over the tumor tissue. Dynamic changes of the intratumoral oxygen partial pressure during inhalation of 8 %, 21 %, or 100 % oxygen were monitored in vivo by EPR spectroscopy and quantified. Values were verified in vivo by invasive fluorometric measurements using Oxylite probes and ex vivo by pimonidazole adduct accumulation. There were no hints that the tumor physiology or tissue oxygenation had been altered by the microparticles. Hence, these microprobes offer great potential as oxygen sensors in preclinical research, not only for EPR spectroscopy but also for EPR imaging. For instance, the assessment of tissue oxygenation during therapeutic interventions might help understanding pathophysiological processes and lead to an individualized treatment planning or the use of formulations with hypoxia triggered release of active agents.

Clinical applications of alanine/electron spin resonance dosimetry

This paper discusses the clinical applications of electron spin resonance (ESR) dosimetry focusing on the ESR/alanine system. A review of few past studies in this area is presented offering a critical overview of the challenges and opportunities for extending this system into clinical applications. Alanine/ESR dosimetry fulfills many of the required properties for several clinical applications such as water-equivalent composition, independence of the sensitivity for the energy range used in therapy and high precision. Improvements in sensitivity and the development of minidosimeters coupled with the use of a spectrometer of higher microwave frequency expanded the possibilities for clinical applications to the new modalities of radiotherapy (intensity-modulated radiation therapy and radiosurgery) and to the detection of low doses such as those present in some radiological image procedures.