MAS CryoProbes

Increasing Sensitivity Without Sample Modification

While being extremely versatile, NMR has the inherent challenge of being insensitive. One strategy to improve the signal-to-noise ratio is to cryogenically cool the RF components of the NMR probe. The resulting reduced level of thermal noise generated by the RF coil, the network, and the preamplifiers leads to a significant boost in sensitivity while maintaining the sample in its original composition. While the RF components of the probe are cooled to cryogenic temperatures, the temperature of the sample can be controlled independently and kept close to room temperature to preserve the sample’s natural line width.

Bruker’s MAS CryoProbes are available in two RF configurations, with one geared towards biological research (HCN) and the other towards material research (HX). MAS CryoProbes are available for a range of different frequencies.

Download BioSolids MAS CryoProbe Flyer:

Download MAS CryoProbe for Material Science Flyer:

Discover the full potential of our MAS CryoProbe by scheduling a customer demonstration at one of our global locations. Our team of experienced Application specialists will guide you through NMR measurements on our cutting-edge equipment, showcasing all features in action. If you are unable to visit us in person, remote demos and sample submissions are available to ensure you have access to our innovative technology from anywhere in the world. Schedule your demo today and experience the power of Bruker NMR.

• Cold preamplifiers for the observe channels
• Strong RF fields for demanding solid-state NMR experiments
  
• Integrated automatic tuning and matching
  
• Precise and reproducible magic angle adjustment
  
• Automated lift-assisted sample exchange
  
• Sample temperature range: -20°C to +60°C
  
• MAS rates up to 20 kHz with specially designed 3.2 mm rotors
  
• Standard bore design, compatible with SB and WB magnets
  

• Game changing sensitivity enhancement for solid-state NMR
  
• Increased productivity through faster data acquisition
  
• Expand resolution by adding one dimension in the same amount of experimental time:  4-dimensional experiments for structural elucidation, like CaNCOCX, recorded in just one week
  
• Explore challenging dilute samples, preserving their natural chemical composition at physiologically relevant temperatures
  
• 2D ¹³C-¹³C correlation experiments at natural abundance
  
• 2D MQMAS correlation experiments on low gamma nuclei

The HCN MAS CryoProbe addresses the specific needs of NMR spectroscopy of biological solids: challenging biological systems can be studied under physiological conditions, where their biological functions and mechanisms are retained.

The HCN MAS CryoProbe is a triple resonance MAS CryoProbe optimized for samples with moderate ionic strengths.

Diluted samples, such as labelled proteins in their native environment or small molecules in large assemblies, and samples in natural abundance or with a low level of labelling, benefit particularly from the significant sensitivity boost of this innovative probe.

Examples and links to references:

• Prion proteins and fibril-forming proteins:
  Fungal HETs and fibrils of human Y145Stop
• In-cell spectroscopy:
  Plant cell wall

• Large biological assemblies and biomolecular condensates:
  Kif5b complexed with microtubules and HIV-1 capsid protein assemblies
• ¹³C studies at natural abundance:
  Native collagen inside bone matrix 

The double-channel HX MAS CryoProbe covers a large frequency range of nuclei which are relevant in material science. Material science applications that are inaccessible with conventional room-temperature probes are possible due to game-changing enhancements in sensitivity of the CryoProbe, particularly those involving low-gamma and low-natural-abundance nuclei.

Examples and links to references:

• Small molecules:
  ¹⁷O spectroscopy and ¹³C - ¹³C correlation at natural abundance in Carbohydrates
• Low gamma nuclei:
  MOF characterization by 2D 3MQMAS ⁶⁷Zn NMR at natural abundance

The MAS CryoProbe offers distinguished advantages when applied to routine experiments with crystalline materials: typical 1D ¹³C or ¹⁵N spectra require less than 20 minutes and just a few hours respectively, while a 2D ¹H–¹³C HETCOR can be accomplished within an hour. 

Moreover, the ¹³C–¹³C and ¹H–¹⁵N experiments, generally considered time-prohibitive using conventional room-temperature MAS probes, become feasible with the MAS CryoProbe. 

The MAS CryoProbe is a winning approach also in the characterization of pharmaceutical active ingredients into their formulation: the larger dispersion of the ¹³C and ¹⁵N chemical shift limits the detrimental effects of spectral crowding, and the boost in sensitivity achieved with the MAS CryoProbe maximizes the throughput.

Examples and references:

• Advanced characterization of pharmaceutical drugs and products
• In-situ characterization of pharmaceuticals for drug-delivery
• Characterizing polymorphs and amorphous form by ³⁵Cl

Bruker’s MAS CryoProbes are compatible with standard bore and wide bore magnets. Cryogenic cooling is provided by Bruker’s proven CryoPlatform. A fully motorized probe lift is used to move the MAS CryoProbe in and out of the magnet for easy and convenient sample changes. For such sample changes, the probe remains cold.

The MAS CryoProbe system package includes:

• MAS CryoProbe​
• Motorized probe lift, lift and magic angle motion control unit, and mounting hardware​
• Special RT shim system, compatible with all standard bore probes​
• Pump station for increased vacuum quality​
• Spinning test station and packing tools specific for the MAS CryoProbe rotors.