Biomedical Overhauser Magnetic Resonance Imaging (OMRI): Noninvasive Imaging of Redox Processes

Overhauser effect is an energy transfer phenomenon between different spin systems. It is known as NOE (nuclear Overhauser effect) in NMR and widely used in molecular structure analysis. It is generally recognized as the dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) process to establish a hyperpolarized spin state to increase the sensitivity of magnetic resonance detection of nuclei. This type of DNP approach is also regarded as a promising technique for sensitive detection of NMR/MRI of chemical probes in combination with low temperature/dissolution technique. Another type of imaging strategy is free radical imaging based on Overhauser effect. Thus the free radical imaging in biomedical material through Overhauser effect is denoted as OMRI in this chapter. This chapter discusses the principle of OMR, OMRI scanner, and resonator configuration, and the biomedical application.