Magnify - Creating the hyperpolarization battery to magnify NMR signals and improve analysis

Chemical analysis is integral to understanding materials and their production. Consequently, it is a key technology that underpins
Europe's chemical and pharmaceutical sectors. We seek here to change the way we analyse materials, biological processes, catalysis
and reactivity using magnetic resonance (MR). This will involve creating the hyperpolarisation battery (HB) via parahydrogen, whose
subsequent discharge will magnify MR responses to facilitate previously impossible measurements.
Through this lens, the low cost identification and quantification of molecules and their roles in catalysis will become possible. This will
lead to faster analyses, improved catalysts and methods to transform chemicals manufacture thereby creating new commercial
opportunities and improving research efficiency. Catalysis produces 80% of industrially relevant chemicals and pharmaceuticals, and
accounts for 20-30% of world gross domestic product. Europe is a leading player here, but this position needs strengthening to
address challenges by China, the USA and Japan. Our methods also lie on the path to creating highly visible contrast agents for
improved disease diagnosis and treatment by MRI. The HB dovetails therefore with a need to support aging populations and address
conditions like cancer and neurodegenerative disorder.
Creating a versatile HB will involve a synthetic programme, magnetic field analysis and detailed optimisation. We must define its
chemical nature, optimise charging from parahydrogen gas and ensure its charged lifetime allows isolation from parahydrogen to
overcome existing safety, solvent and selectivity limitations. Sensitisation through discharge of the isolated HB must broaden scope
to enable studies of catalysis, pharmaceutical preparations and potential MRI contrast agents. By breaking the link to parahydrogen,
solvent and reaction diversity is assured; the now controllable properties of the HBs will define scope and the final hyperpolarisation
outcome.