Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) can now be used for more than just medical examination. As a measurement technology which offers extremely accurate insights into the structure of molecules and biochemical processes, NMR can support the development of new drugs and help optimise many industrial chemical processes. Unfortunately, serial NMR measurements that provide the most valuable insights are also the most time-consuming, with a single sample taking even a few weeks to examine. A team from the University of Warsaw’s Centre of New Technologies, led by Dr. hab. Krzysztof Kazimierczuk, has successfully developed an innovative method that helps significantly accelerate NMR measurements. With this advancement, tests that have previously taken a few days to complete can now be made in just a few hours.

This groundbreaking discovery, made as part of the FIRST TEAM grant by the Foundation for Polish Science, was published in late August in Angewandte Chemie, a renowned scientific journal (impact factor 12.257).

“New measurement methods are one of the drivers behind scientific progress. What is as important as upgrading equipment itself, is improving data collection and analysis. And this is where our Team comes in. We are committed to optimising serial NMR measurements to deliver more accurate results within shorter time spans. Reducing the time required for analysis is crucial, because in many cases long measurement time can be an insurmountable obstacle, either because of equipment operation costs or instability of certain samples,” explains Dr. hab. Krzysztof Kazimierczuk.

The published results of an experimental study by the UW team can have multiple applications, e.g. for new drug development. Indeed, this new method delivers accurate data and detailed insights even about very weak molecular interactions. “Serial NMR measurements are key for testing, e.g. complex interactions between intracellular proteins, drug-protein binding, chemical reactions, and transformation of material structures. What is extremely important from the pharmaceutical industry point of view is that these measurements provide the necessary data to support computer modelling of bioparticle structures,” notes Dr. hab Krzysztof Kazimierczuk.

The title of the study conducted by the Polish scientists is  “Non?stationary complementary non?uniform sampling (NOSCO NUS) for fast acquisition of serial 2D NMR titration data.?

More information:

• Publication in Angewandte Chemie
• Description of research conducted as part of the FIRST TEAM grant (Call 4/2017)

The FIRST TEAM Programme is implemented by the Foundation for Polish Science using EU funds available from the European Regional Development Fund under the Smart Growth Operational Programme, Axis IV:  Increasing Scientific and Research Potentials, Measure 4.4 Increasing the HR potential of R&D.