In this article, the results of a study of the magnetic dynamics of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) with chitosan and polyethylene glycol (PEG) coatings are reported. The materials were prepared by the co-precipitation method and characterized by X-ray diffraction, dynamic light scattering and scanning transmission electron microscopy. It was shown that the cores contain maghemite, and their hydrodynamic diameters vary from 49 nm for PEG-coated to 200 nm for chitosan-coated particles. The magnetic dynamics of the nanoparticles in terms of the function of temperature was studied with magnetic susceptometry and Mössbauer spectroscopy. Their superparamagnetic fluctuations frequencies, determined from the fits of Mössbauer spectra, range from tens to hundreds of megahertz at room temperature and mostly decrease in the applied magnetic field. For water suspensions of nanoparticles, maxima are observed in the absorption part of magnetic susceptibility and they shift to higher temperatures with increasing excitation frequency. A step-like decrease of the susceptibility occurs at freezing, and from that, the Brown’s and Néel’s contributions are extracted and compared for nanoparticles differing in core sizes and types of coating. The results are analyzed and discussed with respect to the tailoring of the dynamic properties of these nanoparticle materials for requirements related to the characteristic frequency ranges of MRI and electromagnetic field hyperthermia.

Recent theories about the sources of silica in bedded and nodular cherts do not fit the origin of cherts from the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland. Since siliceous sponges as a single source of silica is questionable, assumptions about additional sources have to be verified. In order to do so, three samples of nodular cherts and one representative sample of bedded chert were studied by means of ¹H LF-NMR 1D and 2D relaxometry and complementary geochemical methods. The results were compared with the literature and standard silica materials which helped to identify five types of ¹H signal. Very distinct 1D-T₂spectra of dried samples indicated the existence of closed pores which, after comprehensive analysis, were identified as inclusions filled with different types of siliceous materials. Saturation revealed the differences between nodular and bedded cherts, that were visible mainly in the amount and size of open porosity. The Principal Component Analysis of NMR parameters showed the excellent separation of these two groups of samples which is well visible on the biplots. Additionally, the estimated Pore Size Distribution revealed that the total porosity of around 2% consisted primarily of mesopores (2-50 nm in diameter) and macropores (diameter >50 nm). In bedded cherts open porosity is dominated by macropores, while in nodular cherts the share of mesopores and macropores is similar.

Nuclear magnetic resonance (MR) (NMR) is commonly used for the determination of rock porosity, as well as pore size distribution (PSD) and tortuosity, required to handle hydrocarbon exploitation. Emerging technologies for NMR equipment now enable the visualization of porosity using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Currently, single‐point imaging is the most common MRI technique employed, but diffusion‐weighted imaging has been attracting the attention of geologists and geophysicists. In this study, a more advanced technique, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), is proposed for the characterization of rock core samples. The main purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the usefulness of DTI in the petrophysical characterization of rocks and discuss its strengths. As an example, a carbonate core sample was examined using DTI. The diffusion tensor (DT) was obtained and DT parameters (mean diffusivity, MD; fractional anisotropy, FA; three eigenvalues; DT components; and proton density, PD) were visualized in 2D and 3D. Each parameter was described and its utility in terms of pore space characterization was analyzed. In addition, a new parameter, principal diffusion tracts, was introduced based on the DT tractography performed in the study. The analysis is summarized in a set of DT parameters and a resultant ellipsoid that delivers complementary information about the sample's pore network microgeometry, including referential measurements of anisotropic phantoms. The applications of DTI for the determination of pore size distribution, tortuosity and conductivity are also shown. The study ends with a consideration of the potential prospects and challenges for DTI‐based examination of rock core samples.

This paper reports a first application of diffusion tensor imaging with corrections by using the B-matrix spatial distribution method (BSD-DTI) for peripheral artery disease (PAD) detected in the changes of diffusion tensor parameters (DTPs). A 76-year-old male was diagnosed as having PAD, since he demonstrated in angiographic images of lower legs severe arterial stenosis and the presence of lateral and peripheral circulation and assigned to the double-blind RCT using mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) or placebo for the regenerative treatment of implications of ischemic diseases. In order to indicate changes in diffusivity in calf muscles in comparison to a healthy control, a DTI methodology was developed. The main advantage of the applied protocol was decreased scanning time, which was achieved by reducing b-value and number of scans (to 1), while maintaining minimal number of diffusion gradient directions and high resolution. This was possible due to calibration via the BSD method, which reduced systematic errors and allowed quantitative analysis. In the course of PAD, diffusivities were elevated across the calf muscles in posterior compartment and lost their anisotropy. Different character was noticed for anterior compartment, in which diffusivities along and across muscles were decreased without a significant loss of anisotropy. After the intervention involving a series of injections, the improvement of DTPs and tractography was visible, but can be assigned neither to MSCs nor placebo before unblinding.

The importance of the biophysical characterization of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) was recently pointed out for supporting the development of MSC‐based therapies. Among others, tracking MSCs in vivo and a quantitative characterization of their regenerative impact by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) demands a full description of MSCs’ MR properties. In the work, Wharton Jelly MSCs are characterized in a low magnetic field (LF) in vitro by using different approaches. They encompass various settings: MSCs cultured in a Petri dish and cell suspensions; experiments‐ 1D‐T ₁, 1D‐T ₂, 1D diffusion, 2D T ₁‐T ₂ and D‐T ₂; devices‐ with a bore aperture and single‐sided one. Complex NMR analysis with the aid of random walk simulations allows the determination of MSCs T ₁ and T ₂ relaxation times, cells and nuclei sizes, self‐diffusion coefficients of the nucleus and cytoplasm. In addition, the influence of a single layer of cells on the effective diffusion coefficient of water is detected with the application of a single‐sided NMR device. It also enables the identification of apoptotic and necrotic cell death and changed diffusional properties of cells suspension caused by compressing forces induced by the subsequent cell layers. The study delivers MSCs‐specific MR parameters that may help tracking MSCs in vivo.