The utilization of calcium chloride in combination with gelatin-based hydrogel for the creation of a mechanically accurate brain phantom for concussion analysis and intracranial behavior.

There are presently no mechanically accurate brain phantoms that can model the intracranial behavior of the brain during force application, thus leaving a niche void in the understanding of the brain's movement in a concussive situation. Hydrogel polymers, such as the gelatin-based material used in this project, have mechanical properties that may be adjusted with varying concentrations of calcium chloride solution combined. The cross-linking effect creates a material that can be adjusted in strength and moduli values to mimic that of the native human brain. Replication of the brain has been done through mold-casting, utilizing the ability to 3D print each region/material type of the brain to create molds matching the viscoelastic and mechanical properties exactly.