Abstract
Three-dimensional printing and casting materials were analyzed by prompt gamma-ray activation analysis (PGAA) to determine their suitability as human tissue surrogates for the fabrication of phantoms for medical imaging and radiation dosimetry applications. Measured elemental compositions and densities of five surrogate materials simulating soft tissue and bone were used to determine radiological properties (x-ray mass attenuation coefficient and electron stopping power). When compared with radiological properties of International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements (ICRU) materials, it was determined that urethane rubber and PLA plastic yielded the best match for soft tissue, while silicone rubber and urethane resin best simulated the properties of bone.
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Acknowledgements
The sample preparation and PGAA analyses in this study were supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Intramural Research Program and by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), respectively. The contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH or NIST. In this article, certain commercially available software packages or equipment are identified to foster understanding. Such an identification does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the NIH or the NIST, nor does it imply they are the best available for the purpose.
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Paul, R.L., Mille, M.M., Turkoglu, D.J. et al. Prompt gamma ray activation analysis for determining chemical composition of 3D printing and casting materials used in biomedical applications. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 332, 3285–3291 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-023-08967-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-023-08967-5