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

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

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

Original languageEnglish
Number of pages19
JournalACS applied materials & interfaces
Volume14
Issue number43
Publication statusPublished - 2 Nov 2022
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

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

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Keywords

  • 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