Patent ID: 7402437

Claim:
A method for preparing a sample and for analyzing the chemical state of living cells by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) comprising: i) preparing a sample of living cells so as to set the chemical state of the cells by: a) subjecting said sample of living cells to a temperature at or lower than −80° C. so as to stop intracellular reactions, by directly immersing said sample in liquid nitrogen, followed by, b) lyophilizing said sample; ii) storing said sample at said temperature less than or equal to −80° C. iii) just before performing the NMR analysis, mixing and redissolving said lyophilized sample, at a temperature between 0° C. and −20° C., with a solvent having a very low melting point and being liquid at the temperature between 0° C. and −20° C.; iv) obtaining, at the temperature between 0° C. and −20° C., at least one NMR spectrum and/or at least one NMR measurement value through High Resolution Magic Angle Spinninig (HRMAS) NMR; and v) comparing said at least one HRMAS NMR spectrum and/or at least one HRMAS NMR measurement value with at least one reference NMR spectrum and/or at least one reference NMR measurement value obtained on at least one reference sample of living cells.