3D Extrusion Printing of Biphasic Anthropomorphic Brain Phantoms Mimicking MR Relaxation Times Based on Alginate-Agarose-Carrageenan Blends

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftForschungsartikelBeigetragenBegutachtung

Beitragende

Abstract

The availability of adapted phantoms mimicking different body parts is fundamental to establishing the stability and reliability of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods. The primary purpose of such phantoms is the mimicking of physiologically relevant, contrast-creating relaxation times T1 and T2. For the head, frequently examined by MRI, an anthropomorphic design of brain phantoms would imply the discrimination of gray matter and white matter (WM) within defined, spatially distributed compartments. Multichannel extrusion printing allows the layer-by-layer fabrication of multiple pastelike materials in a spatially defined manner with a predefined shape. In this study, the advantages of this method are used to fabricate biphasic brain phantoms mimicking MR relaxation times and anthropomorphic geometry. The printable ink was based on purely naturally derived polymers: alginate as a calcium-cross-linkable gelling agent, agarose, ι-carrageenan, and GdCl3 in different concentrations (0-280 μmol kg-1) as the paramagnetic component. The suggested inks (e.g., 3Alg-1Agar-6Car) fulfilled the requirements of viscoelastic behavior and printability of large constructs (>150 mL). The microstructure and distribution of GdCl3 were assessed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). In closely monitored steps of technological development and characterization, from monophasic and biphasic samples as printable inks and cross-linked gels, we describe the construction of large-scale phantom models whose relaxation times were characterized and checked for stability over time.

Details

OriginalspracheEnglisch
Seitenumfang19
FachzeitschriftACS applied materials & interfaces
Jahrgang14
Ausgabenummer43
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - 2 Nov. 2022
Peer-Review-StatusJa

Externe IDs

Scopus 85140823520
PubMed 36270624
Mendeley 8f65e858-5388-3e7f-89cf-095c73f05ab0
WOS 000877350100001

Schlagworte

Schlagwörter

  • 3D plotting, Additive manufacturing, Bioprinting, Gray matter, Hydrogels, Magnetic resonance imaging, Relaxation times, White matter, Cross-Linking Reagents, Microscopy, Electron, Scanning, Reproducibility of Results, Sepharose/chemistry, Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods, Alginates/chemistry, Brain/anatomy & histology, Phantoms, Imaging, Printing, Three-Dimensional, Carrageenan/chemistry