Radiofrequency ablation combined with conductive fluid-based dopants (saline normal and colloidal gold): computer modeling and ex vivo experiments

Abstract Background The volume of the coagulation zones created during radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is limited by appearance roll-off. Doping tissue with conductive fluids, e.g., gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) could enlarge these delaying Our goal was to characterize electrical conductivity a substrate doped AuNPs in computer modeling study and ex vivo experiments investigate their effect on zone volumes. Methods substrates normal saline or assessed experimentally agar phantoms. models, built solved COMSOL Multiphysics, consisted cylindrical domain mimicking liver spherical 2, 3 4 cm diameters. Ex were conducted bovine fragments under three different conditions: non-doped (ND Group), 2 mL 0.9% NaCl (NaCl 0.1 wt% (AuNPs Group). Results theoretical analysis showed that adding colloidal concentrations lower than 10% only modifies practically no change thermal characteristics. results relationship between size electrode length regarding zone. There good agreement computational terms transverse diameter Conclusions Both doping can zone, especially hence enhance sphericity.