 |
| The
combined OM/MRM microscope. The
microscope consists of a bottom-loading
optical microscope and a top-loading
MR microscope; both inserted into
a c vertical bore 11.7 Tesla magnet.
|
Just a few years ago, scientists
were unable to observe chemical changes
within normal living cells, because
the analytical methods destroyed or
modified the cells. But a new method
surmounts these problems. Scientists
from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
and the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology recently developed a system
making it possible, for the first
time, to simultaneously image "live"
cellular systems using both optical
microscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance
(NMR) microscopy. The system combines
new image contrast techniques, enhanced
specificity to cellular events, and
reduced NMR microscopy measurement
times. The NMR imager works like a
magnetic resonance imaging unit at
a modern hospital, except that it
examines much smaller collections
of cells, down to a single cell and
its nucleus. Furthermore, the new
microscope reveals information about
a cell's chemical composition and
allows scientists to monitor changes
in both the shape and chemical Back
to Decades of Discovery home of the
cells as they occur.
Scientific Impact:
This noninvasive technique will enable
scientists to monitor how live cells
respond as they are exposed to environmental
changes, such as heat, chemicals,
and radiation. Scientists will also
be able to see what happens when cells
are exposed to multiple contaminants
at the same time, and, ultimately,
to relate these responses to large-scale
effects.
Social Impact: This
new capability will greatly enhance
understanding of the connection between
environmental exposures and human
health problems. Studies of cellular
changes in real time will help explain
how cells succeed or fail in fighting
off diseases, and enable practitioners
to track healthy cells that become
cancerous or diseased cells undergoing
treatment.
Reference: K.R.
Minard and R.A. Wind, "Solenoidal
Microcoil design for 1H NMR microscopy."
Part I: General guidelines, invited
manuscript to Concepts in Magnetic
Resonance, (in press).
K.R. Minard and R.A. Wind, "Solenoidal
Microcoil design for 1H NMR microscopy."
Part II: RF losses and the signal-to-noise
ratio, invited manscript to Concepts
in Magnetic Resonance, (in press).
R.A. Wind, Minard, K.R., Cothran,
V., and Doty, F.D., "Pico-liter 1H
NMR spectroscopy using a 230-microns-ID
micro-solenoid," J.Magn. Reson.
(in preparation).
R.A. Wind, Minard, K.R., Holtom, G.R.,
Majors, P.D., Ackerman, E.J., Colson,
S.D., Cory, D.G., Daly, D.S., Ellis,
P.D., Metting, N.F., Parkinson, C.I.,
Price, J.M., and Tang, X.-W, "An integrated
confocal and magnetic resonance microscope
for cellular research," J. Magn.
Reson. 147:371-377 (2000).
P.D. Majors, Weber, T.J., Holtom,
G.R., Minard, K.R., and Wind, R.A.,
"Combined Optical and Magnetic Resonance
Microscopy of Heterogeneous JB6 Tumor
Spheroid Populations," Proc. ISMRM
9 2001; (in press).
Technical Contact:
Dr. Dean Cole, Medical Sciences Division,
Office of Biological and Environmental
Research, 301-903-3268
Press Contact: Jeff
Sherwood, DOE Office of Public Affairs,
202-586-5806
SC-Funding Office:
Office of Biological and Environmental
Research |
