Static and dynamic light scattering properties of intralipid aqueous suspension for tissue phantom preparation and calibration

Intralipid is a material widely employed for the preparation of phantoms simulating optical properties of tissues in the field of optical imaging. Two main assumptions underlie the theoretical predictions of their scattering properties: the occurrence of single scattering for any concentrations of Intralipid, thus enabling the use of Mie theory, and a highly anisotropic g-factor giving a forward preferential direction of photon propagation. The importance of precisely estimating the optical properties of such phantoms requires that the accuracy of these assumptions and their range of applicability are very well-assessed. In this paper, we report the first step of an experimental investigation on the scattering properties of Intralipid suspensions at different concentrations. The study is carried out by the joined use of Time-Resolved Transmittance and Dynamic and Static Light Scattering techniques. By the analysis of the angular and temporal dependence of light scattered by Intralipid suspensions, a more reliable description of the scattering process occurring in the samples could be obtained. The results allow us to better elucidate the dependence of scattering properties of suspensions on Intralipid concentrations and composition. This will help in the design and realization of tissue phantoms with more and more reliable optical properties.