Magnetic Drug Targeting in Stenosed Arteries Using Magnetic Microspheres

ABSTRACT

Magnetic drug targeting, if suitably designed, can be used for arresting the growth of stenosis in arteries. Herein, a numerical investigation of magnetic drug targeting using functionalized magnetic microspheres in stenosed arteries is conducted. An Eulerian-Lagrangian technique is adopted to resolve the hemodynamic flow and the motion of the magnetic particles in the flow. An implantable cylindrical permanent magnet insert is used to create the requisite magnetic field. Targeted transport of the magnetic particles in a stenosed artery differs distinctly from the same in a regular artery. Parametric investigation is conducted to study the influence of the flow Re, magnetic insert diameter, and the radial positions of the magnetic insert on the “targeting efficiency”. Analysis shows that there exists an optimum regime of operating parameters for which deposition of the drug-carrying magnetic particles in a pre-designated target zone on the stenosed artery wall can be maximized. The results provide useful design bases for in vitro set up for the investigation of MDT in stenosed arteries.

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