In Vivo NMR Methods, Overview of Techniques

Abstract

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is arguably one of the most versatile techniques in use in biomedical research today. However, it was not until the mid-1970s that the first applications of NMR in studies of living biological systems were reported and the term in vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) was coined. Today, MRS is being used in a wide range of studies of biological processes in systems as diverse as a single cell, isolated perfused organs, and living animals and humans. Several different NMR-sensitive nuclei can be used in the study of biological systems, and the most common are 1H, 13C, 31P, and 19F. It is also possible to combine MRS with different NMR-based methods, particularly magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to acquire anatomic, metabolic, physiological, and functional information in the same scan session, providing uniquely multivariate information for biological and medical research and applications. The chapter provides an overview of in vivo MRS concepts and demonstrates the potential utility of the approach in biomedical and clinical research.