Changes in the dielectric properties of rat prostate ex vivo at 915 MHz during heating

Measurement and image-based estimation of dielectric properties of biological tissues —past, present, and future—

The dielectric properties of biological tissues are fundamental pararmeters that are essential for electromagnetic modeling of the human body. The primary database of dielectric properties compiled in 1996 on the basis of dielectric measurements at frequencies from 10 Hz to 20 GHz has attracted considerable attention in the research field of human protection from non-ionizing radiation. This review summarizes findings on the dielectric properties of biological tissues at frequencies up to 1 THz since the database was developed. Although the 1996 database covered general (normal) tissues, this review also covers malignant tissues that are of interest in the research field of medical applications. An intercomparison of dielectric properties based on reported data is presented for several tissue types. Dielectric properties derived from image-based estimation techniques developed as a result of recent advances in dielectric measurement are also included. Finally, research essential for future advances in human body modeling is discussed.

Numerical simulation of microwave ablation incorporating tissue contraction based on thermal dose

Tissue contraction plays an important role during high temperature tumor ablation, particularly during device characterization, treatment planning and imaging follow up. We measured such contraction in 18 ex vivo bovine liver samples during microwave ablation by tracking fiducial motion on CT imaging. Contraction was then described using a thermal dose dependent model and a negative thermal expansion coefficient based on the empirical data. FEM simulations with integrated electromagnetic wave propagation, heat transfer, and structural mechanics were evaluated using temperature-dependent dielectric properties and the negative thermal expansion models. Simulated temperature and displacement curves were then compared with the ex vivo experimental results on different continuous output powers. The optimized thermal dose model indicated over 50% volumetric contraction occurred at the temperature over 102.1 °C. The numerical simulation results on temperature and contraction-induced displacement showed a good agreement with experimental results. At microwave powers of 55 W, the mean errors on temperature between simulation and experimental results were 8.25%, 2.19% and 5.67% at 5 mm, 10 mm and 20 mm radially from the antenna, respectively. The simulated displacements had mean errors of 16.60%, 14.08% and 23.45% at the same radial locations. Compared to the experimental results, the simulations at the other microwave powers had larger errors with 10-40% mean errors at 40 W, and 10-30% mean errors at 25 W. The proposed model is able to predict temperature elevation and simulate tissue deformation during microwave ablation, and therefore may be incorporated into treatment planning and clinical translation from numerical simulations.

A novel property of gold nanoparticles: Free radical generation under microwave irradiation

PURPOSE

Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) are known to be effective mediators in microwave hyperthermia. Interaction with an electromagnetic field, large surface to volume ratio, and size quantization of nanoparticles (NPs) can lead to increased cell killing beyond pure heating effects. The purpose of this study is to explore the possibility of free radical generation by GNPs in aqueous media when they are exposed to a microwave field.

METHODS

A number of samples with 500 mM 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO) in 20 ppm GNP colloidal suspensions were scanned with an electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR)/electron spin resonance spectrometer to generate and detect free radicals. A fixed (9.68 GHz) frequency microwave from the spectrometer has served for both generation and detection of radicals. EPR spectra obtained as first derivatives of intensity with the spectrometer were double integrated to get the free radical signal intensities. Power dependence of radical intensity was studied by applying various levels of microwave power (12.5, 49.7, and 125 mW) while keeping all other scan parameters the same. Free radical signal intensities from initial and final scans, acquired at the same power levels, were compared.

RESULTS

Hydroxyl radical (OH⋅) signal was found to be generated due to the exposure of GNP-DMPO colloidal samples to a microwave field. Intensity of OH⋅ signal thus generated at 12.5 mW microwave power for 2.8 min was close to the intensity of OH⋅ signal obtained from a water-DMPO sample exposed to 1.5 Gy ionizing radiation dose. For repeated scans, higher OH⋅ intensities were observed in the final scan for higher power levels applied between the initial and the final scans. Final intensities were higher also for a shorter time interval between the initial and the final scans.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results observed for the first time demonstrate that GNPs generate OH⋅ radicals in aqueous media when they are exposed to a microwave field. If OH⋅ radicals can be generated close to deoxyribonucleic acid of cells by proper localization of NPs, NP-aided microwave hyperthermia can yield cell killing via both elevated temperature and free radical generation.

Treatment planning in microwave thermal ablation: clinical gaps and recent research advances

Microwave thermal ablation (MTA) is a minimally invasive therapeutic technique aimed at destroying pathologic tissues through a very high temperature increase induced by the absorption of an electromagnetic field at microwave (MW) frequencies. Open problems, which are delaying MTA applications in clinical practice, are mainly linked to the extremely high temperatures, up to 120 °C, reached by the tissue close to the antenna applicator, as well as to the ability of foreseeing and controlling the shape and dimension of the thermally ablated area. Recent research was devoted to the characterisation of dielectric, thermal and physical properties of tissue looking at their changes with the increasing temperature, looking for possible developments of reliable, automatic and personalised treatment planning. In this paper, a review of the recently obtained results as well as new unpublished data will be presented and discussed.

Review of temperature dependence of thermal properties, dielectric properties, and perfusion of biological tissues at hyperthermic and ablation temperatures

The application of supraphysiological temperatures (>40°C) to biological tissues causes changes at the molecular, cellular, and structural level, with corresponding changes in tissue function and in thermal, mechanical and dielectric tissue properties. This is particularly relevant for image-guided thermal treatments (e.g. hyperthermia and thermal ablation) delivering heat via focused ultrasound (FUS), radiofrequency (RF), microwave (MW), or laser energy; temperature induced changes in tissue properties are of relevance in relation to predicting tissue temperature profile, monitoring during treatment, and evaluation of treatment results. This paper presents a literature survey of temperature dependence of electrical (electrical conductivity, resistivity, permittivity) and thermal tissue properties (thermal conductivity, specific heat, diffusivity). Data of soft tissues (liver, prostate, muscle, kidney, uterus, collagen, myocardium and spleen) for temperatures between 5 to 90°C, and dielectric properties in the frequency range between 460 kHz and 3 GHz are reported. Furthermore, perfusion changes in tumors including carcinomas, sarcomas, rhabdomyosarcoma, adenocarcinoma and ependymoblastoma in response to hyperthmic temperatures up to 46°C are presented. Where appropriate, mathematical models to describe temperature dependence of properties are presented. The presented data is valuable for mathematical models that predict tissue temperature during thermal therapies (e.g. hyperthermia or thermal ablation), as well as for applications related to prediction and monitoring of temperature induced tissue changes.

Computational modelling of microwave tumour ablations

Microwave tissue heating is being increasingly utilised in several medical applications, including focal tumour ablation, cardiac ablation, haemostasis and resection assistance. Computational modelling of microwave ablations is a precise and repeatable technique that can assist with microwave system design, treatment planning and procedural analysis. Advances in coupling temperature and water content to electrical and thermal properties, along with tissue contraction, have led to increasingly accurate computational models. Developments in experimental validation have led to broader acceptability and applicability of these newer models. This review will discuss the basic theory, current trends and future direction of computational modelling of microwave ablations.

Expanded modeling of temperature-dependent dielectric properties for microwave thermal ablation

Microwaves are a promising source for thermal tumor ablation due to their ability to rapidly heat dispersive biological tissues, often to temperatures in excess of 100 °C. At these high temperatures, tissue dielectric properties change rapidly and, thus, so do the characteristics of energy delivery. Precise knowledge of how tissue dielectric properties change during microwave heating promises to facilitate more accurate simulation of device performance and helps optimize device geometry and energy delivery parameters. In this study, we measured the dielectric properties of liver tissue during high-temperature microwave heating. The resulting data were compiled into either a sigmoidal function of temperature or an integration of the time-temperature curve for both relative permittivity and effective conductivity. Coupled electromagnetic-thermal simulations of heating produced by a single monopole antenna using the new models were then compared to simulations with existing linear and static models, and experimental temperatures in liver tissue. The new sigmoidal temperature-dependent model more accurately predicted experimental temperatures when compared to temperature-time integrated or existing models. The mean percent differences between simulated and experimental temperatures over all times were 4.2% for sigmoidal, 10.1% for temperature-time integration, 27.0% for linear and 32.8% for static models at the antenna input power of 50 W. Correcting for tissue contraction improved agreement for powers up to 75 W. The sigmoidal model also predicted substantial changes in heating pattern due to dehydration. We can conclude from these studies that a sigmoidal model of tissue dielectric properties improves prediction of experimental results. More work is needed to refine and generalize this model.

Ultrawideband temperature-dependent dielectric properties of animal liver tissue in the microwave frequency range

The development of ultrawideband (UWB) microwave diagnostic and therapeutic technologies, such as UWB microwave breast cancer detection and hyperthermia treatment, is facilitated by accurate knowledge of the temperature- and frequency-dependent dielectric properties of biological tissues. To this end, we characterize the temperature-dependent dielectric properties of a representative tissue type-animal liver-from 0.5 to 20 GHz. Since discrete-frequency linear temperature coefficients are impractical and inappropriate for applications spanning wide frequency and temperature ranges, we propose a novel and compact data representation technique. A single-pole Cole-Cole model is used to fit the dielectric properties data as a function of frequency, and a second-order polynomial is used to fit the Cole-Cole parameters as a function of temperature. This approach permits rapid estimation of tissue dielectric properties at any temperature and frequency.

Interstitial microwave thermal therapy and its application to the treatment of recurrent prostate cancer

Interstitial microwave thermal therapy may be an effective alternative to surgery for the treatment of some solid tumours. Arrays of helical antennae can produce complex heating patterns which when combined with active cooling of normal tissue structures can provide conformal heating for thermal coagulation of tumours. The development of a clinical protocol involving phantom and animal model studies, treatment planning, tissue property measurement and methods for on-line treatment monitoring is reviewed. The technology developed has been applied to the problem of recurrent prostate cancer following failed radiation treatment where available curative options are associated with high normal tissue morbidity. The purpose was to develop a treatment option for this group of patients with a very low side-effect profile that would not preclude further treatment if the disease progressed. Results of a Phase I/II trial demonstrate safety, promising efficacy and a low complication rate. As the technology for delivering this treatment matures, larger multi-institutional trials should be considered.