An oxygen-consuming phantom simulating perfused tissue to explore oxygen dynamics and ¹⁹F MRI oximetry

Objective: This study presents a reproducible phantom which mimics oxygen-consuming tissue and can be used for the validation of ¹⁹F MRI oximetry. Materials and methods: The phantom consists of a haemodialysis filter of which the outer compartment is filled with a gelatin matrix containing viable yeast cells. Perfluorocarbon emulsions can be added to the gelatin matrix to simulate sequestered perfluorocarbons. A blood-substituting perfluorocarbon fluid is pumped through the lumen of the fibres in the filter. ¹⁹F relaxometry MRI is performed with a fast 2D Look-Locker imaging sequence on a clinical 3T scanner. Results: Acute and perfusion-related hypoxia were simulated and imaged spatially and temporally using the phantom. Conclusions: The presented experimental setup can be used to simulate oxygen consumption by somatic cells in vivo and for validating computational biophysical models of hypoxia, as measured with ¹⁹F MRI oximetry.