CFD simulation of blood-mediated drug transport through a dense solid tumour

Abstract

ABSTRACT Advancements in cancer treatment have underscored the importance of understanding the intricate interplay between tumour microenvironments and drug delivery mechanisms. This research delves into the dynamic relationship between blood-mediated drug transport and the density of the tumour matrix within solid tumours. The study seeks to unravel the effects of varying tumour matrix densities on drug transport characteristics and, subsequently, on the perfusion efficacy of therapeutic agents. Through computational fluid dynamics simulation, this research elucidates the intricate balance between transport dynamics and drug distribution within solid tumours. A simple two-dimensional circular geometry has been chosen to represent the tumour and the surrounding microcirculation. The drug molecules diffuse into the interstitial tumour matrix through the microcirculation and then from the matrix into the tumour cells. The matrix is considered to be a porous medium, and the porosity of the media has been varied to simulate the effect of the matrix density on drug perfusion. Simulation results have shown that the density significantly affects the transport flux of the drug through the tumour matrix. The outcomes of this research hold potential implications for optimising drug delivery strategies in cancer therapy possibly by designing drug molecules that can effectively diffuse through dense tumour matrices.