Preliminary study: ultrasound characterization of PVA cryogels
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17979/ja-cea.2026.47.13723Keywords:
PVA, propylene glycol, cryogel, phantom, ultrasound, speed of sound, soft tissuesAbstract
Tissue-mimicking materials are fundamental tools for calibration, validation, and training in ultrasound techniques, as they allow controlled experimental conditions comparable to biological tissues to be reproduced. In this work, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) cryogels were fabricated with different concentrations of propylene glycol, incorporated as an additive through partial substitution of demineralized water, with the aim of adjusting their acoustic response. The samples were obtained by physical gelation through freeze--thaw cycles and were characterized in immersion, at 36.5 ºC, using ultrasound transducers. From the analysis of time-of-flight measurements, the longitudinal speed of sound was determined for each formulation. The results showed mean velocities ranging from 1578.5 to 1615.7 m/s after the fifth cycle, values compatible with those reported for various soft tissues. These findings constitute preliminary results for the selection of formulations and guide the development of new PVA--propylene glycol compositions with tunable acoustic properties for ultrasound-based biomedical applications.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Juan Sebatián Montenegro-Bravo, Alberto Rodríguez-Martínez , Juan David Romero-Ante, Miguel Ángel de la Casa-Lillo, Jose María Sabater-Navarro
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