High-quality photoacoustic compatible phantoms can facilitate the imaging standardization and clinical translation of this emerging technique. We optimized the receipt of a copolymer-in-oil material, which has been recently proposed as a candidate photoacoustic-compatible material. Moreover, we proposed the methodology to fabricate a realistic, durable, and photoacoustic-compatible phantom by combining image-based modeling and 3D-printing techniques for clinical application. Beyond the fabrication, a detailed optical and acoustic characterization is also provided. The proposed tissue-mimicking phantom offers a tradeoff between manufacturing abilities, durability, reproducibility, and compatibility of the material. Furthermore, the phantom is durable and stable over time under storage and repeated use.
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