While optical coherence tomography is widely used in ophthalmology, its effectiveness is limited when light cannot adequately penetrate ocular structures. In such cases, ultrasound offers a reliable alternative. Ultrasound-compatible retinal phantoms have been developed using hydrogels to support diagnostic imaging of retinal tears and detachments. Theoretical and physical models of the eye were developed, replicating the acoustic behavior of healthy and pathological retinas. However, a key challenge in fabricating realistic phantoms is the rapid dehydration of conventional hydrogel materials. To address this, a hydro-locking polymer network was developed using bisphenol-A ethoxylate diacrylate hydrogels, with sulfuric acid incorporated via pre- and post-polymerization techniques in this study. Acid concentrations in the 1–40%w/w range were investigated. Sulfuric acid promotes hydrogen and ionic bonding within the structure, significantly enhancing long-term hydration stability. Additional storage protocols extended phantom viability from minutes to over 1 month. Validation through water tank ultrasound testing (5–10 MHz), COMSOL simulations, and ionic conductivity measurements confirmed the theory, the sustained acoustic performance, and imaging accuracy. This approach offers a scalable and effective strategy for improving the durability of hydrogel-based retinal phantoms, supporting their use in ophthalmic ultrasound system calibration and imaging validation.
Palkovits et al. (Wed,) studied this question.
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