United States scientists developed a nano-scale magnetic resonance imager

United States Research Center of IBM Corporation and Stanford University Center for nano-explored by the scientists work together to develop a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), their resolution than conventional MRI 1 billion times higher.

Published in the United States National Academy of Sciences Institute of newspaper "the results of this study, as in the nano-level research complex 3D structure provides molecular biology and nanotechnology tools represents a significant step.

Adoption of the resolution of the MRI will be extended to the extent of such fine, scientists have developed a microscope, as the technology develops further, the final perhaps sufficient to reveal the microscope the protein structures and interactions, to personalized medical and target drug development update progress achieved.

The results will also be on from protein to integrated circuits and other materials, such materials on a detailed understanding of atomic structure is critical.

IBM Research Center of strategy and operations Vice President Mark Dane said that this technology is expected to provide a non-intrusive manner to show such as proteins and other biological structure of three-dimensional detail will give human observation of viruses, bacteria, proteins and other biomolecules brings revolutionary change of method.

This results benefited from a called magnetic resonance force microscope (MRFM) technology, which relies on detection of ultra-fine magnetic, in addition to high resolution, the imaging technology there are further advantages of chemical properties, you can "see" the surface of things.

But with the electron microscope, the technology will not be sensitive to the destruction of biological materials.

For more than 10 years, IBM has been working in the field of scientists MRFM occupies a leading position.

Now, IBM-led research team has significantly improved the sensitivity of the MRFM and advanced 3D image reconstruction technology, which makes them the first time can reveal the nanoscale MRI of the organism. The technology applied to tobacco mosaic virus samples, the resolution can be as low as 4 nm (TMV's width is 18 NM).

The new technology and use gradients and the conventional MRI Imaging coil.

Researchers use MRFM microscope cantilever to detect over the tiny magnetic under samples, the cantilever is a shaped as a springboard for thin silicon wafers. When the sample of hydrogen atoms in magnetic spin with Nano-magnetic tip play a role, you can track laser interference cantilever movement. On magnetic tip for 3D scanning, can be carried out on the cantilever of vibration analysis to build a three-dimensional image.

IBM Research Center in nano-technology Director Dan lines Ghar said that, as is well known in the field of medical imaging: a powerful tool, MRI has been very limited ability to micro-and nanoscale MRI technology to show individual protein molecules and molecular compounds of internal structure, which is the key to understanding the biological function.

Researchers will then endeavour to enhance the sensitivity of the MRFM in the hope of semiconductor or medical field, displaying a single molecular and Atomic image.