Fat tissue equivalent phantoms for microwave applications by reinforcing gelatin with nanocellulose

Tissue mimicking phantom materials with thermal and dielectric equivalence are vital for the development of microwave diagnostics and treatment. The current phantoms representing fat tissue are challenged by mechanical integrity at relevant temperatures coupled with complex production protocols. We have employed two types of nanocellulose (cellulose nanocrystals and oxidized cellulose nanocrystals) as reinforcement in gelatin stabilized emulsions for mimicking fat tissue. The nanocellulose-gelatin stabilized emulsions were evaluated for their dielectric properties, the moduli-temperature dependence using small deformation rheology, stress-strain behavior using large deformation, and their compliance to quality assurance guidelines for superficial hyperthermia. All emulsions had low permittivity and conductivity within the lower microwave frequency band, accompanied by fat equivalent thermal properties. Small deformation rheology showed reduced temperature dependence of the moduli upon addition of nanocellulose, independent of type. The cellulose nanocrystals gelatin reinforced emulsion complied with the quality assurance guidelines. Hence, we demonstrate that the addition of cellulose nanocrystals to gelatin stabilized emulsions has the potential to be used as fat phantoms for the development of microwave diagnostics and treatment.