Long-lived states to sustain SABRE hyperpolarised magnetisation

The applicability of the magnetic resonance (MR) technique in the liquid phase is limited by poor sensitivity and short nuclear spin coherence times which are insufficient for many potential applications. Here we illustrate how it is possible to address both of these issues simultaneously by harnessing long-lived hyperpolarised spin states that are formed by adapting the Signal Amplification by Reversible Exchange (SABRE) technique. We achieve more than 4% net (1)H-polarisation in a long-lived form that remains detectable for over ninety seconds by reference to proton pairs in the biologically important molecule nicotinamide and a pyrazine derivative whose in vivo imaging will offer a new route to probe disease in the future.