Convective analysis of carbon nanotubes in catheter for chemotherapy

Abstract

Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally, about 1 in 6 deaths is due to cancer. Its treatment comprises of thermal therapy in which affected body tissue is exposed to high temperature. High temperature can destroy cancer cells, usually with minimal injury to normal tissues. In order to achieve high temperature, carbon nanotubes are used as infrared agents for cancer cells destruction. These particles produce heat and are helpful in treating malignant tumors. In order to analyze the convective flow of blood, we have considered carbon nanotubes in a gap between two coaxial tubes, the inner tube is solid while a sinusoidal wave travelled down the walls of outer tube. Single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are used as nanoparticles. Heat transfer process is modeled by employing convective boundary conditions. The resulting equations through long wavelength and low Reynolds number approaches are solved. Impact of physical quantities is discussed through plots of fluid flow and heat respectively. Carbon nanotubes produce heat which is helpful for the treatment of cancer cells in thermal therapy. Addition of nanoparticles enhances the thermal conductivity which increases the temperature and thermal boundary layer. Multi-wall carbon nanotubes produce more heat than single-wall carbon nanotubes for larger thermal Biot number. Also temperature is higher for MWCNTs as compared to SWCNTs when Brinkman number is enhanced.