Biomolecular and Biological Applications of Solid-State NMR with Dynamic Nuclear Polarization Enhancement

17O Solid-State NMR Spectroscopy of Lipid Membranes

Despite the limitations posed by poor sensitivity, studies have reported the unique advantages of 17O based NMR spectroscopy to study systems existing in liquid, solid, or semisolid states. 17O NMR studies have exploited the remarkable sensitivity of quadrupole coupling and chemical shift anisotropy tensors to the local environment in the characterization of a variety of intra- and intermolecular interactions and motion. Recent studies have considerably expanded the use of 17O NMR to study dynamic intermolecular interactions associated with some of the challenging biological systems under magic angle spinning (MAS) and aligned conditions. The very fast relaxing nature of 17O has been well utilized in cellular and in vivo MRS (magnetic resonance spectroscopy) and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) applications. The main focus of this Review is to highlight the new developments in the biological solids with a detailed discussion for a few selected examples including membrane proteins and nanodiscs. In addition to the unique benefits and limitations, the remaining challenges to overcome, and the impacts of higher magnetic fields and sensitivity enhancement techniques are discussed.

Optimal sensitivity for 1H detected relayed DNP of organic solids at fast MAS

Dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) combined with high magnetic fields and fast magic angle spinning (MAS) has opened up a new avenue for the application of exceptionally sensitive 1H NMR detection schemes to study protonated solids. Recently, it has been shown that DNP experiments at fast MAS rates lead to slower spin diffusion and hence reduced DNP enhancements for impregnated materials. However, DNP enhancements alone do not determine the overall sensitivity of a NMR experiment. Here we measure the overall sensitivity of one-dimensional 1H detected relayed DNP experiments as a function of the MAS rate in the 20-60 kHz regime using 0.7 mm diameter rotors at 21.2 T. Although faster MAS rates are detrimental for the DNP enhancement on the target material, due to slower spin diffusion, we find that with increasing spinning rates the gain in sensitivity due to 1H line-narrowing and the folding-in of sideband intensity compensates a large part of the loss of overall hyperpolarization. We find that sensitivity depends on the atomic site in the molecule, and is maximised at between 40 and 50 kHz MAS for the sample of L-histidine.HCl·H2O studied here. There is a 10-20 % difference in sensitivity between the optimum MAS rate and the fastest rate currently accessible (60 kHz).

Solid-state NMR MAS CryoProbe enables structural studies of human blood protein vitronectin bound to hydroxyapatite

The low sensitivity of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is a major bottleneck for studying biomolecular structures of complex biomolecular assemblies. Cryogenically cooled probe technology overcomes the sensitivity limitations enabling NMR applications to challenging biomolecular systems. Here we describe solid-state NMR studies of the human blood protein vitronectin (Vn) bound to hydroxyapatite (HAP), the mineralized form of calcium phosphate, using a CryoProbe designed for magic angle spinning (MAS) experiments. Vn is a major blood protein that regulates many different physiological and pathological processes. The high sensitivity of the CryoProbe enabled us to acquire three-dimensional solid-state NMR spectra for sequential assignment and characterization of site-specific water-protein interactions that provide initial insights into the organization of the Vn-HAP complex. Vn associates with HAP in various pathological settings, including macular degeneration eyes and Alzheimer's disease brains. The ability to probe these assemblies at atomic detail paves the way for understanding their formation.

Role of Protons in and around Strongly Coupled Nitroxide Biradicals for Cross-Effect Dynamic Nuclear Polarization

In magic angle spinning dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP), biradicals such as bis-nitroxides are used to hyperpolarize protons under microwave irradiation through the cross-effect mechanism. This mechanism relies on electron-electron spin interactions (dipolar coupling and exchange interaction) and electron-nuclear spin interactions (hyperfine coupling) to hyperpolarize the protons surrounding the biradical. This hyperpolarization is then transferred to the bulk sample via nuclear spin diffusion. However, the involvement of the protons in the biradical in the cross-effect DNP process has been under debate. In this work, we address this question by exploring the hyperpolarization pathways in and around bis-nitroxides. We demonstrate that for biradicals with strong electron-electron interactions, as in the case of the AsymPols, the protons on the biradical may not be necessary to quickly generate hyperpolarization. Instead, such biradicals can efficiently, and directly, polarize the surrounding protons of the solvent. The findings should impact the design of the next generation of biradicals.

AsymPol-TEKs as efficient polarizing agents for MAS-DNP in glass matrices of non-aqueous solvents

Two polarizing agents from the AsymPol family, AsymPol-TEK and cAsymPol-TEK (methyl-free version) are introduced for MAS-DNP applications in non-aqueous solvents. The performance of these new biradicals is rationalized in detail using a combination of electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, density functional theory, molecular dynamics and quantitative MAS-DNP spin dynamics simulations. By slightly modifying the experimental protocol to keep the sample temperature low at insertion, we are able to obtain reproducable DNP-NMR data with 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane (TCE) at 100 K, which facilitates optimization and comparison of different polarizing agents. At intermediate magnetic fields, AsymPol-TEK and cAsymPol-TEK provide 1.5 to 3-fold improvement in sensitivity compared to TEKPol, one of the most widely used polarizing agents for organic solvents, with significantly shorter DNP build-up times of ∼1 s and ∼2 s at 9.4 and 14.1 T respectively. In the course of the work, we also isolated and characterized two diastereoisomers that can form during the synthesis of AsymPol-TEK; their difference in performance is described and discussed. Finally, the advantages of the AsymPol-TEKs are demonstrated by recording 2D 13C-13C correlation experiments at natural 13C-abundance of proton-dense microcrystals and by polarizing the surface of ZnO nanocrystals (NCs) coated with diphenyl phosphate ligands. For those experiments, cAsymPol-TEK yielded a three-fold increase in sensitivity compared to TEKPol, corresponding to a nine-fold time saving.

Molecular mechanisms and evolutionary robustness of a color switch in proteorhodopsins

Proteorhodopsins are widely distributed photoreceptors from marine bacteria. Their discovery revealed a high degree of evolutionary adaptation to ambient light, resulting in blue- and green-absorbing variants that correlate with a conserved glutamine/leucine at position 105. On the basis of an integrated approach combining sensitivity-enhanced solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (ssNMR) spectroscopy and linear-scaling quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) methods, this single residue is shown to be responsible for a variety of synergistically coupled structural and electrostatic changes along the retinal polyene chain, ionone ring, and within the binding pocket. They collectively explain the observed color shift. Furthermore, analysis of the differences in chemical shift between nuclei within the same residues in green and blue proteorhodopsins also reveals a correlation with the respective degree of conservation. Our data show that the highly conserved color change mainly affects other highly conserved residues, illustrating a high degree of robustness of the color phenotype to sequence variation.

Covalent connectivity of glycogen in brewer's spent yeast cell walls revealed by enzymatic approaches and dynamic nuclear polarization NMR

Yeast cell walls undergo modifications during the brewing process, leading to a remodelling of their architecture. One significant change is the increased insolubility of the cell wall glycogen pool, likely due to the formation of covalent bonds between glycogen and cell wall polysaccharides. To verify this hypothesis, we extracted the brewer's spent yeast with 4 M KOH, obtaining an insoluble glucan fraction (AE.4 M) primarily composed of (α1 → 4)- and (1 → 3)-linked Glc residues. Dynamic nuclear polarization solid-state NMR of AE.4 M revealed distinct glucan resonances that helped to differentiate between α- and β glucosyl (1 → 4)-linked residues, and confirm covalent linkages between (β1 → 3)-glucans and glycogen through a (β1 → 4)-linkage. The hydrolysis with different endo-glucanases (zymolyase, cellulase, and lichenase) was used to obtain solubilized high molecular weight glycogen fractions. NMR analysis showed that covalent links between glycogen and (β1 → 6)-glucans through (α1 → 6) glycosidic linkage, with branching at the C6 position involving (β1 → 3), and (β1 → 6)-glucans. HPAEC-PAD analysis of the enzymatically released oligosaccharides confirmed covalent linkages of (β1 → 3), (β1 → 6)-, and (β1 → 4)-glucan motifs with (α1 → 4)-glucans. This combination of multiple enzymatic approaches and NMR methods shed light into the role of yeast cell wall glycogen as a structural core covalently linked to other cell wall components during the brewing process.

Tapping into the native Pseudomonas bacterial biofilm structure by high-resolution multidimensional solid-state NMR

We present a multidimensional magic-angle spinning (MAS) solid-state NMR (ssNMR) study to characterize native Pseudomonas fluorescens colony biofilms at natural abundance without isotope-labelling. By using a high-resolution INEPT-based 2D 1H-13C ssNMR spectrum and thorough peak deconvolution at the 1D ssNMR spectra, approximately 80/134 (in 1D/2D) distinct biofilm chemical sites were identified. We compared CP and INEPT 13C ssNMR spectra to differentiate signals originating from the mobile and rigid fractions of the biofilm, and qualitatively determined dynamical changes by comparing CP buildup behaviors. Protein and polysaccharide signals were differentiated and identified by utilizing FapC protein signals as a template, a biofilm forming functional amyloid from Pseudomonas. We identified several biofilm polysaccharide species such as glucose, mannan, galactose, heptose, rhamnan, fucose and N-acylated mannuronic acid by using 1H and 13C chemical shifts obtained from the 2D spectrum. To our knowledge, this study marks the first high-resolution multidimensional ssNMR characterization of a native bacterial biofilm. Our experimental pipeline can be readily applied to other in vitro biofilm model systems and natural biofilms and holds the promise of making a substantial impact on biofilm research, fostering new ideas and breakthroughs to aid in the development of strategic approaches to combat infections caused by biofilm-forming bacteria.

Calculating 13 C NMR chemical shifts of large molecules using the eXtended ONIOM method at high accuracy with a low cost

Fragmentation-based methods for nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) chemical shift calculations have become more and more popular in first-principles calculations of large molecules. However, there are many options for a fragmentation-based method to select, such as theoretical methods, fragmentation schemes, the number of levels of theory, etc. It is important to study the optimal combination of the options to achieve a good balance between accuracy and efficiency. Here we investigate different combinations of options used by a fragmentation-based method, the eXtended ONIOM (XO) method, for 13 C chemical shift calculations on a set of organic and biological molecules. We found that: (1) introducing Hartree-Fock exchange into density functional theory (DFT) could reduce the calculation error due to fragmentation in contrast to pure DFT functionals, while a hybrid functional, xOPBE, is generally recommended; (2) fragmentation schemes generated from the molecular tailoring approach (MTA) with small level parameter n, for example, n = 2 and the degree-based fragmentation method (DBFM) with n = 1, are sufficient to achieve satisfactory accuracy; (3) the two-level XO (XO2) NMR calculation is superior to the calculation with only one level of theory, as the second level (i.e., low level) of theory provides a way to well describe the long-range effect. These findings are beneficial to practical applications of fragmentation-based methods for NMR chemical shift calculations of large molecules.

Polarization Amplification in Dynamic Nuclear Polarization Magic-Angle Spinning Solid-State Nuclear Magnetic Resonance by Solubilizing Traditional Ionic Salts

Dynamic nuclear polarization can improve the sensitivity of magic-angle spinning solid-state NMR experiments by 1-2 orders of magnitude. In aqueous media, experiments are usually performed using the so-called DNP juice, a glycerol-d8/D2O/H2O mixture (60/30/10, v/v/v) that can form a homogeneous glass at cryogenic temperatures. This acts as a cryoprotectant and prevents phase separation of the paramagnetic polarizing agents (PAs) that are added to the mixture to provide the source of electron spin polarization required for DNP. Here, we show that relatively high 1H DNP enhancements (∼60) can also be obtained in water without glycerol (or other glass forming agents) simply by dissolving high concentrations of electrolytes (such as NaCl or LiCl), which perturb the otherwise unavoidable ice crystallization observed upon cooling, thereby reducing PA phase separation and restoring DNP efficiency.

Sustainable and cost-effective MAS DNP-NMR at 30 K with cryogenic sample exchange

We report here instrumental developments to achieve sustainable, cost-effective cryogenic Helium sample spinning in order to conduct dynamic nuclear polarisation (DNP) and solid-state NMR (ssNMR) at ultra-low temperatures (<30 K). More specifically, we describe an efficient closed-loop helium system composed of a powerful heat exchanger (95% efficient), a single cryocooler, and a single helium compressor to power the sample spinning and cooling. The system is integrated with a newly designed triple-channel NMR probe that minimizes thermal losses without compromising the radio frequency (RF) performance and spinning stability (±0.05%). The probe is equipped with an innovative cryogenic sample exchange system that allows swapping samples in minutes without introducing impurities in the closeloop system. We report that significant gain in sensitivity can be obtained at 30-40 K on large micro-crystalline molecules with unfavorable relaxation timescales, making them difficult or impossible to polarize at 100 K. We also report rotor-synchronized 2D experiments to demonstrate the stability of the system.

Tapping into the native Pseudomonas Bacterial Biofilm Structure by High-Resolution 1D and 2D MAS solid-state NMR

We present a high-resolution 1D and 2D magic-angle spinning (MAS) solid-state NMR (ssNMR) study to characterize native Pseudomonas fluorescens colony biofilms at natural abundance without isotope-labelling. By using a high-resolution INEPT-based 2D 1 H- 13 C ssNMR spectrum and thorough peak deconvolution approach at the 1D ssNMR spectra, approximately 80/134 (in 1D/2D) distinct biofilm chemical sites were identified. We compared CP and INEPT 13 C ssNMR spectra to different signals originating from the mobile and rigid fractions of the biofilm, and qualitative determined dynamical changes by comparing CP buildup behaviors. Protein and polysaccharide signals were differentiated and identified by utilizing FapC signals as a template, a biofilm forming functional amyloid from Pseudomonas . We also attempted to identify biofilm polysaccharide species by using 1 H/ 13 C chemical shifts obtained from the 2D spectrum. This study marks the first demonstration of high-resolution 2D ssNMR spectroscopy for characterizing native bacterial biofilms and expands the scope of ssNMR in studying biofilms. Our experimental pipeline can be readily applied to other in vitro biofilm model systems and natural biofilms and holds the promise of making a substantial impact on biofilm research, fostering new ideas and breakthroughs to aid in the development of strategic approaches to combat infections caused by biofilm-forming bacteria.

Exploiting solid-state dynamic nuclear polarization NMR spectroscopy to establish the spatial distribution of polymorphic phases in a solid material

Solid-state DNP NMR can enhance the ability to detect minor amounts of solid phases within heterogenous materials. Here we demonstrate that NMR contrast based on the transport of DNP-enhanced polarization can be exploited in the challenging case of early detection of a small amount of a minor polymorphic phase within a major polymorph, and we show that this approach can yield quantitative information on the spatial distribution of the two polymorphs. We focus on the detection of a minor amount (<4%) of polymorph III of m-aminobenzoic acid within a powder sample of polymorph I at natural isotopic abundance. Based on proposed models of the spatial distribution of the two polymorphs, simulations of 1H spin diffusion allow NMR data to be calculated for each model as a function of particle size and the relative amounts of the polymorphs. A comparison between simulated and experimental NMR data allows the model(s) best representing the spatial distribution of the polymorphs in the system to be established.

Serial Polarization Transfer by Combination of Cross-Relaxation and Rotational Resonance for Sensitivity-Enhanced Solid-State NMR

Methods which induce site-specificity and sensitivity enhancement in solid-state magic-angle spinning NMR spectroscopy become more important for structural biology due to the increasing size of molecules under investigation. Recently, several strategies have been developed to increase site specificity and thus reduce signal overlap. Under dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) for NMR signal enhancement, it is possible to use cross-relaxation transfer induced by select dynamic groups within the molecules which is exploited by SCREAM-DNP (Specific Cross Relaxation Enhancement by Active Motions under DNP). Here, we present an approach where we additionally reintroduce the homonuclear dipolar coupling with rotational resonance (R2 ) during SCREAM-DNP to further boost the selectivity of the experiment. Detailed analysis of the polarization buildup dynamics of 13 C-methyl polarization source and 13 C-carbonyl target in 2-13 C-ethyl 1-13 C-acetate provides information about the sought-after and spurious transfer pathways. We show that dipolar-recoupled transfer rates greatly exceed the DNP buildup dynamics in our model system, indicating that significantly larger distances can be selectively and efficiently hyperpolarized.

13C Hyperpolarization of Viscous Liquids by Transfer of Solid-Effect 1H Dynamic Nuclear Polarization at High Magnetic Field

Dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) is routinely used as a method for increasing the sensitivity to nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Recently, high-field solid-effect DNP in viscous liquids on 1H nuclei was demonstrated using narrow-line polarizing agents. Here we expand the applicability of DNP in viscous media to 13C nuclei. To hyperpolarize 13C nuclei, we combined solid-effect 1H DNP with a subsequent transfer of the 1H polarization to 13C via insensitive nuclei enhanced by polarization transfer (INEPT). We demonstrate this approach using a triarylmethyl radical as a polarizing agent and glycerol-13C3 as an analyte. We achieved 13C enhancement factors of up to 45 at a magnetic field of 9.4 T and room temperature.

Dynamic Nuclear Polarization Illuminates Key Protein-Lipid Interactions in the Native Bacterial Cell Envelope

Elucidating the structure and interactions of proteins in native environments is a fundamental goal of structural biology. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is well suited for this task but often suffers from low sensitivity, especially in complex biological settings. Here, we use a sensitivity-enhancement technique called dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) to overcome this challenge. We apply DNP to capture the membrane interactions of the outer membrane protein Ail, a key component of the host invasion pathway of Yersinia pestis. We show that the DNP-enhanced NMR spectra of Ail in native bacterial cell envelopes are well resolved and enriched in correlations that are invisible in conventional solid-state NMR experiments. Furthermore, we demonstrate the ability of DNP to capture elusive interactions between the protein and the surrounding lipopolysaccharide layer. Our results support a model where the extracellular loop arginine residues remodel the membrane environment, a process that is crucial for host invasion and pathogenesis.

Polarizing agents for efficient high field DNP solid-state NMR spectroscopy under magic-angle spinning: from design principles to formulation strategies

Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (DNP) has recently emerged as a cornerstone approach to enhance the sensitivity of solid-state NMR spectroscopy under Magic Angle Spinning (MAS), opening unprecedented analytical opportunities in chemistry and biology. DNP relies on a polarization transfer from unpaired electrons (present in endogenous or exogenous polarizing agents) to nearby nuclei. Developing and designing new polarizing sources for DNP solid-state NMR spectroscopy is currently an extremely active research field per se, that has recently led to significant breakthroughs and key achievements, in particular at high magnetic fields. This review describes recent developments in this area, highlighting key design principles that have been established over time and led to the introduction of increasingly more efficient polarizing sources. After a short introduction, Section 2 presents a brief history of solid-state DNP, highlighting the main polarization transfer schemes. The third section is devoted to the development of dinitroxide radicals, discussing the guidelines that were progressively established to design the fine-tuned molecular structures in use today. In Section 4, we describe recent efforts in developing hybrid radicals composed of a narrow EPR line radical covalently linked to a nitroxide, highlighting the parameters that modulate the DNP efficiency of these mixed structures. Section 5 reviews recent advances in the design of metal complexes suitable for DNP MAS NMR as exogenous electron sources. In parallel, current strategies that exploit metal ions as endogenous polarization sources are discussed. Section 6 briefly describes the recent introduction of mixed-valence radicals. In the last part, experimental aspects regarding sample formulation are reviewed to make best use of these polarizing agents in a broad panel of application fields.

Dynamic nuclear polarization illuminates key protein-lipid interactions in the native bacterial cell envelope

Elucidating the structure and interactions of proteins in native environments has become a fundamental goal of structural biology. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is well suited for this task but often suffers from low sensitivity, especially in complex biological settings. Here, we use a sensitivity-enhancement technique called dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) to overcome this challenge. We apply DNP to capture the membrane interactions of the outer membrane protein Ail, a key component of the host invasion pathway of Yersinia pestis . We show that the DNP-enhanced NMR spectra of Ail in native bacterial cell envelopes are well resolved and enriched in correlations that are invisible in conventional solid-state NMR experiments. Furthermore, we demonstrate the ability of DNP to capture elusive interactions between the protein and the surrounding lipopolysaccharide layer. Our results support a model where the extracellular loop arginine residues remodel the membrane environment, a process that is crucial for host invasion and pathogenesis.

Mechanistic origins of methyl-driven Overhauser DNP

The Overhauser effect in the dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) of non-conducting solids has drawn much attention due to the potential for efficient high-field DNP as well as a general interest in the underlying principles that enable the Overhauser effect in small molecules. We recently reported the observation of 1H and 2H Overhauser effects in H3C- or D3C-functionalized Blatter radical analogs, which we presumed to be caused by methyl rotation. In this work, we look at the mechanism for methyl-driven Overhauser DNP in greater detail, considering methyl librations and tunneling in addition to classical rotation. We predict the temperature dependence of these mechanisms using density functional theory and spin dynamics simulations. Comparisons with results from ultralow-temperature magic angle spinning-DNP experiments revealed that cross-relaxation at temperatures above 60 K originates from both libration and rotation, while librations dominate at lower temperatures. Due to the zero-point vibrational nature of these motions, they are not quenched by very low temperatures, and methyl-driven Overhauser DNP is expected to increase in efficiency down to 0 K, predominantly due to increases in nuclear relaxation times.

Optimizing chemistry at the surface of prodrug-loaded cellulose nanofibrils with MAS-DNP

Studying the surface chemistry of functionalized cellulose nanofibrils at atomic scale is an ongoing challenge, mainly because FT-IR, NMR, XPS and RAMAN spectroscopy are limited in sensitivity or resolution. Herein, we show that dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) enhanced ¹³C and ¹⁵N solid-state NMR is a uniquely suited technique to optimize the drug loading on nanocellulose using aqueous heterogenous chemistry. We compare the efficiency of two conventional coupling agents (DMTMM vs EDC/NHS) to bind a complex prodrug of ciprofloxacin designed for controlled drug release. Besides quantifying the drug grafting, we also evidence the challenge to control the concurrent prodrug adsorption and to optimize washing procedures. We notably highlight the presence of an unexpected prodrug cleavage mechanism triggered by carboxylates at the surface of the cellulose nanofibrils.

Specific Signal Enhancement on an RNA-Protein Interface by Dynamic Nuclear Polarization

Sensitivity and specificity are both crucial for the efficient solid-state NMR structure determination of large biomolecules. We present an approach that features both advantages by site-specific enhancement of NMR spectroscopic signals from the protein-RNA binding site within a ribonucleoprotein (RNP) by dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP). This approach uses modern biochemical techniques for sparse isotope labeling and exploits the molecular dynamics of ¹³ C-labeled methyl groups exclusively present in the protein. These dynamics drive heteronuclear cross relaxation and thus allow specific hyperpolarization transfer across the biomolecular complex's interface. For the example of the L7Ae protein in complex with a 26mer guide RNA minimal construct from the box C/D complex in archaea, we demonstrate that a single methyl-nucleotide contact is responsible for most of the polarization transfer to the RNA, and that this specific transfer can be used to boost both NMR spectral sensitivity and specificity by DNP.

Fast magic angle spinning for the characterization of milligram quantities of organic and biological solids at natural isotopic abundance by 13C-13C correlation DNP-enhanced NMR

We show that multidimensional solid-state NMR ¹³C-¹³C correlation spectra of biomolecular assemblies and microcrystalline organic molecules can be acquired at natural isotopic abundance with only milligram quantities of sample. These experiments combine fast Magic Angle Spinning of the sample, low-power dipolar recoupling, and dynamic nuclear polarization performed with AsymPol biradicals, a recently introduced family of polarizing agents. Such experiments are essential for structural characterization as they provide short- and long-range distance information. This approach is demonstrated on diverse sample types, including polyglutamine fibrils implicated in Huntington's disease and microcrystalline ampicillin, a small antibiotic molecule.

Highly bioresistant, hydrophilic and rigidly linked trityl-nitroxide biradicals for cellular high-field dynamic nuclear polarization

Cellular dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) has been an effective means of overcoming the intrinsic sensitivity limitations of solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (ssNMR) spectroscopy, thus enabling atomic-level biomolecular characterization in native environments. Achieving DNP signal enhancement relies on doping biological preparations with biradical polarizing agents (PAs). Unfortunately, PA performance within cells is often limited by their sensitivity to the reductive nature of the cellular lumen. Herein, we report the synthesis and characterization of a highly bioresistant and hydrophilic PA (StaPol-1) comprising the trityl radical OX063 ligated to a gem-diethyl pyrroline nitroxide via a rigid piperazine linker. EPR experiments in the presence of reducing agents such as ascorbate and in HeLa cell lysates demonstrate the reduction resistance of StaPol-1. High DNP enhancements seen in small molecules, proteins and cell lysates at 18.8 T confirm that StaPol-1 is an excellent PA for DNP ssNMR investigations of biomolecular systems at high magnetic fields in reductive environments.