Biological applications of electron paramagnetic resonance viscometry using a13 c-labeled trityl spin probe

Abstract

Alterations in viscosity of biological fluids and tissues play an important role in health and diseases. It has been demonstrated that the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrum of a13 C-labeled trityl spin probe (13 C-dFT) is highly sensitive to the local viscosity of its microenvironment. In the present study, we demonstrate that X-band (9.5 GHz) EPR viscometry using13 C-dFT provides a simple tool to accurately measure the microviscosity of human blood in microliter volumes obtained from healthy volunteers. An application of low-field L-band (1.2 GHz) EPR with a penetration depth of 1–2 cm allowed for microviscosity measurements using13 C-dFT in the living tissues from isolated organs and in vivo in anesthetized mice. In summary, this study demonstrates that EPR viscometry using a13 C-dFT probe can be used to noninvasively and rapidly measure the microviscosity of blood and interstitial fluids in living tissues and potentially to evaluate this biophysical marker of microenvironment under various physiological and pathological conditions in preclinical and clinical settings.