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Title

Evidence of red cell alignment in the magnetic field of an NMR spectrometer based on the diffusion tensor of water
Authors

Philip W. Kuchel
Organization: The University of Sydney
Department: Department of Biochemistry
URL: http://www.bioeng.auckland.ac.nz/MCF/invited_users/philip_kuchel.htm
C. J. Durrant
B. E. Chapman
P. S. Jarrett
D. G. Regan
Journal / Anthology

Journal of Magnetic Resonance
Year: 2000
Volume: 145
Issue: 2
Page range: 291-301
Description

The alignment of human erythrocytes in aqueous suspensions in the magnetic field B_0 (called the z-direction) of an NMR spectrometer was shown by calculating the diffusion tensor for water in the sample. The diffusion was measured using a pulsed-field-gradient spin-echo NMR method. The extent of diffusion anisotropy for water was exemplified by the values of the apparent diffusion coefficients with erythrocytes of normal shape and volume: for a typical experiment the values for the x-, y-, and z-directions were (6.88 ± 0.17) × 10^-10, (7.07 ± 0.17) × 10^-10, and (10.20 ± 0.17) × 10^-10 m2 s-1, respectively. Cells in hypo- and hyperosmotic media were also studied and they too showed the anisotropy of the apparent diffusion coefficients but the extents were different. A new method of data analysis was developed using the Standard Add-On Packages in a Mathematica program. The experimental findings support evidence of erythrocyte alignment that was previously obtained with a high-field-gradient q-space method.
Subjects

*Science > Biology
*Science > Physics > Biophysics
Keywords

cell alignment, PGSE NMR, water diffusion, multivariate analysis, erythrocytes, magnetic field effect on cells