An optimized method for 3D magnetic navigation of nanoparticles inside human arteries

Abstract

A computational method for optimum magnetic navigation of nanoparticles that are coated with anticancer drug inside the human vascular system is presented in this study. For this reason a 3D carotid model is employed. The present model use Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Discrete Element Method (DEM) techniques along with Covariance Matrix Adaptation (CMA) evolution strategy for the evaluation of the optimal values of the gradient magnetic field. Under the influence of the blood flow the model evaluates the effect of different values of the gradient magnetic field in order to minimize the distance of particles from a pre-described desired trajectory. Results indicate that the diameter of particles is a crucial parameter for an effective magnetic navigation. The present numerical model can navigate nanoparticles with diameter above 500 nm with an efficiency of approximately 99%. It is found that the velocity of the blood seems to play insignificant role in the navigation process. A reduction of 25% in the inlet velocity leads the particles only 3% closer to the desired trajectory. Finally, the computational method is more efficient as the diameter of the vascular system is minimized because of the weak convective flow. Under a reduction of 50% in the diameter of the carotid artery the computational method navigate the particles approximately 75% closer to the desired trajectory. The present numerical model can be used as a tool for the determination of the parameters that mostly affect the magnetic navigation method. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.