Tiny bubbles hold big promise for NMR/MRI
Tuesday, July 16, 2013 - 07:00
in Physics & Chemistry
(Phys.org) —Berkeley Lab researchers have shown that tiny bubbles carrying hyperpolarized xenon gas hold big promise for NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) and its sister technology, MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), as these xenon carriers can be used to detect the presence and spatial distribution of specific molecules with far greater sensitivity than conventional NMR/MRI. Applications include molecular imaging of complex solid or liquid chemical and environmental samples, as well as biological samples, including the detection and characterization of lung cancer tumors at an earlier stage of development than current detection methodologies.