What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Review. Population: Cardiovascular fluid dynamics. Intervention: Hydrogels as PIV channel material vs. Silicone.

What does this research mean for the field?

Hydrogels, which swell over 90 vol% when hydrated, may serve as superior PIV channel materials in cardiovascular research due to their optical and mechanical properties. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.METHODOLOGICAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

The aim is to explore the use of hydrogels as innovative channel materials for particle image velocimetry in cardiovascular research.

February 5, 20260 citationsOpen Access

A Review on Novel Channel Materials for Particle Image Velocimetry Measurements—Usability of Hydrogels in Cardiovascular Applications

CWC. WinklerLeibniz University Hannover AKAntonia Isabel KuhnLeibniz University Hannover GHGesine HentschelLeibniz University Hannover

Key Result

Hydrogels offer advantageous optical and mechanical properties for particle image velocimetry channel materials in cardiovascular research compared to traditional silicone.

Key Points

The aim is to explore the use of hydrogels as innovative channel materials for particle image velocimetry in cardiovascular research.
Reviewed various hydrogel types including single, double, triple networks, and nanocomposites.
Analyzed optical and mechanical properties of hydrogels suitable for PIV applications.
Summarized hydrogel properties across seven major groups.
Hydrogels offer optical matching advantages with lower index of refraction for improved light transmission.
Multiple-cross-linked and nanocomposite hydrogels show superior tensile and compressive properties compared to mono-cross-linked gels.

Structured PICO

Intervention

Hydrogels as Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) channel material

Comparator

Silicone

Outcome

Optical and mechanical properties (index of refraction matching, elastic modulus, tensile/compressive stress and strain)

Hydrogels present a promising alternative to silicone for particle image velocimetry channel materials in cardiovascular research due to their superior optical matching and mechanical properties.

Abstract

Particle image velocimetry (PIV) is an optical and contactless measurement method for analyzing fluid blood dynamics in cardiovascular research. The main challenge to visualization investigated in the current research was matching the channel material’s index of refraction (IOR) to that of the fluid. Silicone is typically used as a channel material for these applications, so optical matching cannot be proven. This review considers hydrogel as a new PIV channel material for IOR matching. The advantages of hydrogels are their optical and mechanical properties. Hydrogels swell more than 90 vol% when hydrated in an aqueous solution and have an elastic behavior. This paper aimed to review single, double, and triple networks and nanocomposite hydrogels with suitable optical and mechanical properties to be used as PIV channel material, with a focus on cardiovascular applications. The properties are summarized in seven hydrogel groups: PAMPS, PAA, PVA, PAAm, PEG and PEO, PSA, and PNIPA. The reliability of the optical properties is related to low IORs, which allow higher light transmission. On the other hand, elastic modulus, tensile/compressive stress, and nominal tensile/compressive strain are higher for multiple-cross-linked and nanocomposite hydrogels than single mono-cross-linked gels. This review describes methods for measuring optical and mechanical properties, e.g., refractometry and mechanical testing.

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