Biocompatibility study of beta tricalcium phosphate bioceramics and chitosan biopolymer and their use as phantoms for medical imaging applications

Abstract

AbstractBeta tricalcium phosphate (β‐TCP) bioceramics and chitosan biopolymers are used as biomedical implants because of their better biocompatibility and good bioresorption characteristics. As they are biomaterials, they have good interactions with microwave frequencies. β‐TCP and chitosan powder, films, pellets, and gel are prepared and studied at the S‐band microwave frequencies. Dielectric parameters such as dielectric constant, dielectric loss, conductivity, and S‐parameters are evaluated. Dielectric parameters of different forms of β‐TCP and chitosan show resemblance with that of human tissues. Hence, these materials can also be considered as potential phantoms for specific absorption rate measurements as well as in microwave imaging applications. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 51: 2923–2927, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.24752