COMPUTATIONAL FLUID DYNAMICS (CFD) APPLIED IN THE DRUG DELIVERY DESIGN PROCESS TO THE NASAL PASSAGES: A REVIEW

Abstract

Computer fluid dynamics (CFD) has for many years now been employed to study and solve fluid problems in the industry and offers an attractive method for accurately describing systems at a reasonable cost. Computer-aided methods are becoming increasingly important in medicine. Due to a combination of increased computer efficiency and advanced numerical techniques, the realism of these simulations has been enhanced in recent years. Over the past decade, computer-aided design has emerged as a method that is both sufficiently rigorous and efficient to be used for studies of the fluid dynamics in complex airway structures like the nasal airway. Physical experiments in vitro and in vivo are often expensive and time-consuming, and CFD has gained increasing attention as a tool in the design process of devices delivering drugs to the respiratory tract. This paper provides a review of the development of CFD in the studies of nasal airway fluid dynamics, particle and filtering properties in health and disease. Special emphasis is given to studies related to CFD studies used in the development of nasal drug delivery devices. The accuracy and value of CFD for the study of drug delivery design to the nose is reviewed in comparison to experimental results with other methods. Some important challenges when dealing with grid generation and flow simulations in these complex geometries with variable multiphase flow patterns in alternate directions are discussed.