Hyperpolarized water via dissolution dynamic nuclear polarization: Applications in biomolecular NMR

Abstract

Although traditional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is essential for investigating the structures and dynamics of biomolecules, it is impeded by low sensitivity, particularly under physiological conditions. Hyperpolarization techniques, which considerably amplify NMR signal intensity, have emerged as novel solutions in this field. Among the various hyperpolarization techniques and applications, hyperpolarized water obtained using dissolution dynamic nuclear polarization has been extensively used for the study of biomolecules. This review details the findings of NMR studies involving hyperpolarized water and its potential for biomolecular studies, with applications spanning from revealing molecular interactions under challenging experimental conditions to facilitating real-time NMR applications during structural changes in biomolecules. Further studies are required to thoroughly understand polarization transfer from hyperpolarized water, propelling this field toward unprecedented possibilities and providing biological insights.

Keywords:

• Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy
• hyperpolarization
• dissolution dynamic nuclear polarization
• biomolecular NMR

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education (NRF-2022R1A2C4001273).