Biomimetic phantom for the validation of diffusion magnetic resonance imaging.
OBJECTIVE
A range of advanced diffusion MRI (dMRI) techniques are currently in development which characterize the orientation of white matter fibers using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). There is a need for a physical phantom with microstructural features of the brain's white matter to help validate these methods.


METHODS
Hollow, co-electrospun, aligned fibers with a tuneable size distribution have been produced in bulk and with an MR visible solvent infused into the pores. The morphology and size of the phantoms was assessed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and compared with DTI results obtained on both a clinical and preclinical scanner.


RESULTS
By varying inner diameter of the phantom fibers (from SEM: 9.5 μm, 11.9 μm, 13.4 μm) the radial diffusivity and fractional anisotropy, calculated from DTI, vary between 0.38 ± 0.05 × 10(3) and 0.61 ± 0.06 × 10(3) cm s(-1) and between 0.45 ± 0.05 and 0.33 ± 0.04, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
We envisage that these materials will be used for the validation of novel and established methods within the field of diffusion MRI, as well as for routine quality assurance purposes and for establishing scanner performance in multicenter trials.
Centre for Imaging Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom.|Biomedical Imaging Institute, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom.
Penny L
PL
Hubbard
Centre for Imaging Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom.|The School of Materials, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom.
Feng-Lei
FL
Zhou
College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom.
Stephen J
SJ
Eichhorn
Centre for Imaging Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom.|Biomedical Imaging Institute, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom.
Geoffrey J M
GJ
Parker
D040761:Biomimetic Materials; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation*; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D066127:White Matter / Q000033:anatomy & histology*
coaxial electrospinning; diffusion MRI; microstructure; phantom; white matter