Could you introduce yourself and your research?
I am Philippe Wilson, and I previously worked at Nottingham Trent University as a professor of One Health. My team and I focused on using tools and technologies and translating them for application in diverse fields that have yet to be utilized.
We achieved this with various technologies and tools but were predominantly interested in benchtop NMR. This was due to its portability, suitability for point-of-care applications, and potential in settings where traditional analytical technologies have not been previously used.
How is NMR utilized in your research?
Our main use of NMR was in biofluid analysis. We analysed a range of biofluids, including urine, saliva, blood, cerebrospinal fluid, faeces, and nipple aspirate. We recently expanded our focus into different fields, including food analysis. We collaborated with Australian Lab Services to analyse saffron, other herbs and spices, high-value foods, and honey, aiming to identify adulterants within these products.
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How does your research challenge the necessity of high-field NMR and promote benchtop NMR in various applications?
We validated our benchtop NMR work by comparing it to results obtained from high-field instruments NMR. I am a big proponent of providing the field with the data needed for more widespread use of benchtop NMR, moving beyond the reliance on high-field methods. In the future, high-field NMR will no longer be necessary, and we can exclusively utilize benchtop data.
Our research demonstrated that a high-field NMR benchmark may not be necessary when analysing the sample's top 25 most abundant molecules. It has also shown that NMR performs comparably well in some analyses. We therefore propose that benchmark NMR can be used in various applications, including as a point-of-care technology, in the field to analyse chemical and environmental samples, or in the quality analysis of food samples.
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Can you describe the advancements in NMR technology and how they have impacted sample processing and operational efficiency?
Our instrument had a broadband probe, and we recently acquired an autosampler. This streamlines analysis. For instance, we analysed 200 kidney disease samples without relying on a Ph.D. student to manually insert and wait for each sample to be processed. While it may seem like a routine operation, this significantly accelerates the entire downstream process. The ability to modify probes and investigate different nuclei also revolutionized our work.
Ph.D. students can be trained on the instrument within a week. They then undergo further training in data analysis and related skills. We received initial training from Oxford Instruments when the instruments were acquired approximately 1-2 years ago. Since then, we have cascade-trained our staff on the instrument.
Image Credit: Oxford Instruments
How has adopting the X-Pulse NMR instrument and collaborating with specialists impacted your research capabilities?
We initially used a Pulsar, which is still in use. The X-Pulse doubled our NMR instrumentation and enabled the examination of different nuclei. The inclusion of an autosampler also significantly accelerated processing times.
Collaboration with a pulse sequence specialist enabled the development of fine-tuned experiments for specific regions or biofluids. This minimizes signal width by reducing any large molecular components. The ability to analyse plant samples with the X-Pulse also allowed us to move into and revolutionize the pharmaceutical cannabinoid field.
How does benchtop NMR compare to other analytical methods?
While liquid chromatography-mass and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry are highly sensitive, the portability of benchtop NMR and the ability to conduct untargeted analyses transformed how we work.
About Professor Philippe Wilson
Professor Philippe B. Wilson is Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor for Innovation and Knowledge Exchange, and Professor of One Health at York St John University. Since 2021, he has served as Chief Scientific Officer of NHS Willows Health. His research considers the development of tools and technologies for translational medicine with applications to human, environmental and animal health.
This information has been sourced, reviewed and adapted from materials provided by Oxford Instruments Magnetic Resonance.
For more information on this source, please visit Oxford Instruments Magnetic Resonance.
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