Spin-Space-Encoding Magnetic Resonance Imaging: A New Application for Rapid and Sensitive Monitoring of Dynamic Swelling of Confined Hydrogels

An NMR method based on the gradient-based broadening fingerprint using line shape enhancement (PROFILE) is put forward to precisely and sensitively study hydrogel swelling under restricted conditions. This approach achieves a match between the resonance frequency and spatial position of the sample. A three-component hydrogel with salt ions was designed and synthesized to show the monitoring more clearly. The relationship between the hydrogel swelling and the frequency signal is revealed through the one-dimensional imaging. This method enables real-time monitoring and avoids changing the swelling environment of the hydrogel during contact. The accuracy of this method may reach the micron order. This finding provides an approach to the rapid and non-destructive detection of swelling, especially one-dimensional swelling, and may show the material exchange between the hydrogel and swelling medium.