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Biomedical subjects

J E Snaar

Publications and source records attributed to J E Snaar.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Constant gradient stimulated echo studies of diffusion in porous materials at high spectrometer fields.

A high field strength, constant gradient stimulated-echo pulse sequence is applied to a model heterogeneous system consisting of randomly packed beds of glass microspheres. A multiple exponential analysis of the dependence of the stimulated echo amplitude on diffusion time, delta, yields coefficients that depend explicitly on both the wavevector, q and on the time delay, delta. The wavevector and delta- dependence of the coefficients is analyzed both theoretically and experimentally and shown to be sensitive to the effects of coupled relaxation and diffusion. It is proposed that these effects could be exploited as a new probe of microstructure.

Diffusion↗

Dynamic NMR Q-space studies of microstructure with the multigrade CPMG sequence.

A new approach to q-space studies of microstructure is proposed, which exploits the combined information contained in the water proton transverse relaxation time distribution and the frequency dependence of the apparent water diffusivity in heterogeneous systems. Using an automated two-dimensional multigrade CPMG sequence, both the pulse spacing and the amplitude of the applied field gradient are varied systematically and used to measure the frequency and wave vector dependence of the multiple exponential echo decay constants and amplitudes. Undesirable crossterms in the applied and background field gradients are eliminated by a simple procedure involving a sign reversal in the applied gradient. Nonlinear, local susceptibility-induced field gradients are shown to lead to enhanced, frequency-dependent apparent water diffusivities that are sensitive to the local microstructure.

Algorithms↗

Combined relaxation and diffusion studies of porous media using the multigrade CPMG sequence.

A new approach to q-space NMR studies of microstructure is proposed that exploits the combined information contained in the water proton transverse relaxation time distribution and the frequency dependence of the apparent water diffusivity. A simple protocol is used to eliminate undesirable crossterms in background susceptibility gradients. Local, microscopic nonlinearity in the applied field gradients is shown to lead to enhancement of the apparent water diffusivity in small pores at high frequencies. The relationships between NMR relaxation studies of pore emptying with sorption isotherms, electrical conductivity, and microbiological survival are indicated.

Glass↗

Quantitative measurement and imaging of transport processes in plants and porous media by 1H NMR.

NMR and MRI have been applied to transport processes, that is, net flow and diffusion/perfusion, of water in whole plants, cells, and porous materials. By choosing proper time windows and pulse sequences, magnetic resonance imaging can be made selective for each of the two transport processes. For porous media and plant cells the evolution of the spatial distribution of excited spins has been determined by q-space imaging, using a 20 MHz pulsed 1H NMR imager. The results of these experiments are explained by including spin-relaxation and exchange at boundaries. A 10 MHz portable 1H NMR spectrometer is described, particularly suitable to study the response of net flow in plants and canopies to changing external conditions.

Biological Transport, Active↗

Localized real time blood flow measurements.

A novel method for real time, localized, flow measurements is applied to blood flow in human fingers. Results for arterial and venous flow in normal subjects and patients with abnormal blood circulation are presented. Effects of blood flow regulation by the autonomic nervous system have been observed. Stricture of the digital arteries could be clearly demonstrated in a patient with Raynaud's phenomenon. Experimental signals due to pulsatile flow in a model system can be simulated in a quantitative way. The calibration, however, depends on the actual spin-spin relaxation time and the shape of the pulsatile flow vs. time curve. Due to these limitations, the volume flow rate can be measured with a relative error of approximately +/- 25%.

Blood Flow Velocity↗

A novel application of NMR microscopy: measurement of water diffusion inside bioadhesive bonds.

The self-diffusion coefficient of water (D) inside bioadhesive bonds formed by dry and prehydrated hydrophilic matrices has been spatially resolved using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) microscopy. One-dimensional profiles showing the variation of D inside bioadhesive bonds were calculated from nine diffusion-weighted profiles obtained immediately after bond formation and every 5 min for 30 min. The resulting data indicated that the hydration state of a hydrophilic matrix can significantly and dramatically influence the dynamics of water movement inside a bioadhesive bond.

Dehydration↗

Self-diffusion and molecular mobility in PVA-based dissolution-controlled systems for drug delivery.

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) microscopy has been used to monitor the hydration of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) samples of varying molecular weight. One-dimensional profiles weighted to predominantly show the variation of water concentration were acquired every 3 min during the first 30 min of hydration and subsequently at 1 and 2 h. Diffusion-weighted profiles obtained after 30 min and 1 and 2 h were used to calculate the spatial variation of the water self-diffusion coefficient. The resulting data provide supporting evidence for the hypothesis that phenomena such as reptation are important near the glassy/rubbery interface of polymers during dissolution, while the diffusion gradually changes to Zimm type near the rubbery/solvent interface.

Diffusion↗

Strong gradients for spatially resolved diffusion measurements.

A new multilayer approach to gradient coil design, which allows the production of very strong gradient coils with reasonable resistance and consequent power dissipation, has been developed. Using this approach we have designed and built a strong z-gradient coil that will accommodate vertically mounted samples contained in 5-mm nuclear magnetic resonance tubes. The coil has an efficiency of 1.73 Tm-1A-1, an inductance of 49 microH, and a resistance of 1.8 omega, with a homogeneous volume consisting of a central cylinder of 4.5-mm length and diameter. This coil has been used to monitor the diffusion of water in Nylon 6.6 at room temperature, during desorption. This system is difficult to monitor via nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), because the diffusion coefficients are typically less than 10(-13) m2s-1, while the T2 relaxation time is less than 1 ms even when the sample is fully saturated. The resulting measurements show a strong concentration dependence of the T2 relaxation time and self-diffusion coefficient of the absorbed water. The measured concentration profiles are consistent with a Fickian diffusion process with a concentration-dependent diffusion coefficient. The measured self-diffusion values are in reasonable agreement with those inferred from the variation of the concentration profiles as a function of time, using the one-dimensional Fickian diffusion equation.

Absorption↗