Jul 2023 | Mado Abraham, Sylvain Feruglio, Ahmed Hamraoui, Hakeim Talleb, Vincent Vivier, Kieu Ngo
The study presents a method for determining the dielectric properties of tissue-mimicking materials using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The objective is to fabricate a biomaterial that closely mimics the dielectric properties of bone, specifically for use in spinal surgery, where low-frequency electrical stimulation is used to verify the correct placement of titanium pedicle screws. Tissue-mimicking materials are widely used in medical applications, including surgical procedures, medical imaging, and training. These materials are typically fabricated through chemical synthesis or additive manufacturing to mimic the mechanical, optical, or electrical properties of target tissues.
To mimic the electrical properties of spinal bone, hydrogels containing chitosan and hydroxyapatite (HAp) were synthesized by varying the concentrations and pH of the hydrogels. Chitosan-based gels were prepared by mixing acetic acid, NaOH, and distilled water, with varying amounts of chitosan to achieve different viscosities. HAp-based hydrogels were synthesized through a two-step process: first, HAp nanoparticles were synthesized by mixing calcium hydroxide and ammonium dihydrogen phosphate in water, followed by drying. Then, these nanoparticles were mixed with gelatin to create HAp-based gels.
EIS measurements were performed on the hydrogels in the frequency range of 1 Hz to 1 MHz to determine their electrical properties. The results showed that hydrogels with 5 mg/ml chitosan had similar electrical properties to cancellous bone. This study demonstrates the potential of using EIS to determine the dielectric properties of tissue-mimicking materials, which could be useful in the development of biomaterials for medical applications.The study presents a method for determining the dielectric properties of tissue-mimicking materials using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The objective is to fabricate a biomaterial that closely mimics the dielectric properties of bone, specifically for use in spinal surgery, where low-frequency electrical stimulation is used to verify the correct placement of titanium pedicle screws. Tissue-mimicking materials are widely used in medical applications, including surgical procedures, medical imaging, and training. These materials are typically fabricated through chemical synthesis or additive manufacturing to mimic the mechanical, optical, or electrical properties of target tissues.
To mimic the electrical properties of spinal bone, hydrogels containing chitosan and hydroxyapatite (HAp) were synthesized by varying the concentrations and pH of the hydrogels. Chitosan-based gels were prepared by mixing acetic acid, NaOH, and distilled water, with varying amounts of chitosan to achieve different viscosities. HAp-based hydrogels were synthesized through a two-step process: first, HAp nanoparticles were synthesized by mixing calcium hydroxide and ammonium dihydrogen phosphate in water, followed by drying. Then, these nanoparticles were mixed with gelatin to create HAp-based gels.
EIS measurements were performed on the hydrogels in the frequency range of 1 Hz to 1 MHz to determine their electrical properties. The results showed that hydrogels with 5 mg/ml chitosan had similar electrical properties to cancellous bone. This study demonstrates the potential of using EIS to determine the dielectric properties of tissue-mimicking materials, which could be useful in the development of biomaterials for medical applications.