How does HR-MAS spin rate affect the spectral pattern of mobile lipids?

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“Influence of the spinning rate in the HR-MAS pattern of mobile lipids in C6 glioma cells and in artificial oil bodies” Juana Martín-Sitjar, Teresa Delgado-Goñi, Miquel E. Cabañas, Jason Tzen, Carles Arús; Magnetic Resonance Materials in Physics, Biology and Medicine, 2012, 25(6):487-496. DOI: 10.1007/s10334-012-0327-6

Object: To evaluate how spinning rate affects mobile lipid (ML) resonances visibility in HR-MAS spectra of C6 glioma cells and artificial oil bodies (AOB), as models of cytosolic lipid droplets. Materials and methods: Using C6 cells and AOB of two different sizes, 780 ± 580 and 240 ± 293 nm, as models, we acquired HR-MAS pulse and acquire spectra at different spinning rates between 500 and 15,000 Hz, all at 37 °C. Continue reading How does HR-MAS spin rate affect the spectral pattern of mobile lipids? →

Presentations to the Ibero-American NMR & GERMN Bienal & Iberian NMR joint meeting

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Next week several SeRMN members will present our research work at the IV Ibero-American NMR – VI GERMN Bienal – III Iberian NMR joint meeting that will take place in Aveiro (Portugal) from 25th to 28th September. Find below a summary of our contributions.

Continue reading Presentations to the Ibero-American NMR & GERMN Bienal & Iberian NMR joint meeting →

Organic composition in soil studied by solid state NMR

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“Changes in soil bacterial community: diversity, composition and function triggered by drought-induced gap succession preceded changes in soil C stocks and quality ” Curiel-Yuste J., Barba J., Fernandez-Gonzalez A.J., Fernandez-Lopez M., Mattana S., Martinez-Vilalta J., Pau Nolis, Lloret F. Ecology and Evolution. Accepted 2012.

We investigated soil bacterial taxonomic composition, soil respiration and soil organic matter quantity and quality in a mixed Mediterranean forest where the Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) population is affected by climatic drought-induced die-off, and replaced by Holm-oak (Quercus ilex) populations as the dominant tree species. Continue reading Organic composition in soil studied by solid state NMR →

DMSO as a magnetic resonance contrast agent for brain tumors

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“Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as a potential contrast agent for brain tumors”, by Delgado-Goñi T, Martín-Sitjar J, Simões RV, Acosta M, Lope-Piedrafita S, Arús C.; NMR in Biomedicine. 2012.DOI: 10.1002/nbm.2832.

Identifying the type of brain tumor helps doctors determine the most appropriate course of treatment. Brain tumor diagnosis usually involves a neurological examination, brain scans, and/or an analysis of the brain tissue. Nowadays, the biopsy, although it is a very invasive procedure, is the most accurate method of obtaining a diagnosis. Continue reading DMSO as a magnetic resonance contrast agent for brain tumors →

Sodium mobility on dry-cured ham studied by T2 relaxation times

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“High pressure processing of dry-cured ham: Ultrastructural and molecular changes affecting sodium and water dynamics” Pierre A. Picoueta, Xavier Sala, Núria Garcia-Gila, Pau Nolis, Maddalena Colleo, Teodor Parella, Jacint Arnau. Innovative Food Science & Emerging Technologies. Available online 4 August 2012. DOI: 10.1016/j.ifset.2012.07.008

High pressure processing (HPP) has become a popular method to reduce bacterial load on dry-cured ham. However, HPP processed hams tend to present higher saltiness than non-processed ones. In this study was evaluated the effect of processing Biceps femoris samples of 9 dry-cured hams aged for 15 months at a pressure of 0.1, 300, 600 and 900 MPa. 23Na-Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) relaxation values were used to determine the mobility of sodium. Continue reading Sodium mobility on dry-cured ham studied by T2 relaxation times →

Doctoral thesis on new Chiral Solvating Agents based on molecular tweezers

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Last July I defended the doctoral thesis entitled “Nous agents de solvatació quiral tipus pinça amb anells antracènics: derivats de trifluorometilamines i trifluorometilcarbinols binòlics”.

The thesis focuses on the synthesis and behaviour of new Chiral Solvating Agents (CSA) based on molecular tweezers. The newly synthesized enantiopure compounds can be classified in two big groups:

  • the ones with a trifluoromethylanthrylamine backbone and an isopthalyc acid  as a linking molecule, and
  • the trifluoromethylcarbinol derivatives linked by a BINOL molecule, which adds an additional stereogenic element due to its chiral axis.

Continue reading Doctoral thesis on new Chiral Solvating Agents based on molecular tweezers →

Accurate measurement of small heteronuclear coupling constants from pure-phase α/β HSQMBC cross-peaks

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“Accurate measurement of small heteronuclear coupling constants from pure-phase α/β HSQMBC”, by Sergi Gil, Juan Félix Espinosa and Teodor Parella; Journal of Magnetic Resonance 213, 1, 145-150 (2011). DOI:10.1016/j.jmr.2011.09.036

A simple proton-selective α/β-HSQMBC experiment is proposed for the accurate measurement of long-range proton–carbon coupling constants (nJCH) in small molecules without need for an individualized and time-consuming post-processing fitting procedure. Continue reading Accurate measurement of small heteronuclear coupling constants from pure-phase α/β HSQMBC cross-peaks →

ECOMETABOLOMICS: Metabolomics in Ecological Studies

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“Strong relationship between elemental stoichiometry and metabolome in plants” Albert Rivas-Ubach, Jordi Sardans, Miriam Pérez-Trujillo, Marc Estiarte and Josep Peñuelas.  PNAS, February 2012. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1116092109

Shifts in the elemental stoichiometry of organisms in response to their ontogeny and to changing environmental conditions should be related to metabolomic changes because elements operate mostly as parts of molecular compounds. Here we show this relationship in leaves of Erica multiflora throughout their seasonal development and in response to moderate experimental field conditions of drought and warming. Continue reading ECOMETABOLOMICS: Metabolomics in Ecological Studies →

Novel MRI contrast agents: peptide-SPION conjugates

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Journal Cover:Chem. Commun., 2012, 48, 5322-5324“Efficient γ-amino-proline-derived cell penetrating peptide-superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle conjugates via aniline-catalyzed oxime chemistry as bimodal imaging nanoagents”, by Cavalli S, Carbajo D, Acosta M, Lope-Piedrafita S, Candiota AP, Arús C, Royo M, Albericio F; Chem. Commun 48 (2012) p. 5322. DOI: 10.1039/C2CC17937G

Recent advances in nanotechnology have offered new opportunities for detection, prevention, and treatment of different diseases. In this respect engineered superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) represent an advanced tool in nanomedicine because they can be loaded in a multiple and orthogonal way with drugs and probes in order to simultaneously act as molecular imaging agents and drug carriers. Continue reading Novel MRI contrast agents: peptide-SPION conjugates →