Practical considerations for rapid and quantitative NMR-based metabolomics

NMR is a key technology for metabolomics because of its robustness and reproducibility. Herein we discuss practical considerations that extend the utility of NMR spectroscopy. First, the long T1 spin relaxation times of small molecules limits high-throughput data acquisition because most experimental time is lost while waiting for signal recovery. In principle, the addition of a small amount of commercially-available paramagnetic gadolinium chelate allows cost-effective and efficient highthroughput mixture analysis with correct concentration determination. However, idle time caused by slow temperature regulation during sample exchanges, poses a next constraint. We show how, with proper care, NMR sample scanning times can be reduced additionally by a factor of two. Lastly, we describe how equidistant bucketing is a simple and fast procedure for metabolomic fingerprinting. The combination of these advancements help to make NMR metabolomics more versatile than it is today. (c) 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

NMR is an important technology in metabolomics, but there are practical considerations that need to be addressed, such as the limitations of spin relaxation times, temperature regulation during sample exchanges, and the use of metabolomic fingerprinting techniques. By addressing these issues, NMR metabolomics can become more versatile.