Solution NMR spectroscopy of biomacromolecules has benefited over the past decades from substantial methodological improvements. These developments, such as the TROSY technique for protein backbone and side chain methyls, have pushed the molecular size limitation for structural and functional studies towards 100 kDa. Still, the limiting factor for sensitivity and resolution of NMR spectra in aqueous solution at a given field strength remains the molecular reorientation time (τ̃_m) of Brownian motion.

Recently, it has been shown that nanoencapsulation of biomolecules provides a general solution to overcome this limitation. Reverse micelles (RM) form nanocapsules around the biomolecules, and allow the transfer into low-viscosity liquids, such as ethane, resulting in lower effective τ̃_m values, and thus increased spectral sensitivity and resolution.

The nanocapsule formation and transfer into liquid hydrocarbons requires the use of an RM-synthesizer that operates under high pressure. Here, we propose the acquisition of such an instrument and the required technical accessories. The RM-technique is generally applicable to solution NMR studies of large biomacromolecules and will broadly and substantially enhance our technical capacities for solution NMR spectroscopy at the University of Basel. In particular, our SNI PhD project “Folding mechanisms of β‐barrel outer membrane proteins and their catalysis by natural holdases and foldases” will benefit from the improved NMR spectral quality, allowing measurements at larger molecular weight, lower temperatures, or lower protein concentration. The instrument is thus urgently needed.