Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) Water Solutions as Isotropic Phantoms for Diffusion MRI Studies

Carlo Pierpaoli¹, Joelle Sarlls¹, Uri Nevo^1,2, Peter J. Basser¹, Ferenc Horkay¹

In this work we characterize the diffusion behavior of aqueous solutions of PVP as candidates for a non-toxic diffusion MR phantom suitable for use in a clinical setting. We find that PVP solutions have desirable characteristics. They have temporal stability, show gaussian diffusion profiles, and cover the large range of diffusivities observed in human tissues.