Biomedical Physics Unit

Our Unit's primary area of research is Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, a phenomenon whose main application is in Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Over the last twenty years, this method has become one of the most efficient medical imaging techniques. More precisely, we study the nuclear magnetic relaxation behaviour of water protons in the presence of magnetic nanoparticles.

Indeed, the contrast of MRI images is strongly influenced by the presence of magnetic particles. Some particles are endogenous, i.e. they are naturally present in the human body, while others are exogenous, i.e. they are injected into patients to obtain a better contrast. Examples of endogenous magnetic particles are ferritin and haemosiderin, iron storage proteins, while magnetite nanoparticles are used as exogenous contrast agents.