Drug targeting investigation in the critical region of the arterial bypass graft

Abstract

Abstract Magnetic targeting is a non-invasive strategy to improve treatment efficacy for graft intimal hyperplasia (the leading cause of the arterial bypass graft failure). The present study aims are to investigate the possibility of MPs retention in the bypass graft anastomosis region where IH are developed after surgical intervention and quantify the particles accumulation function of the position of the external magnetic field. In this study iron (Fe) particles with 10 μm in size were used to model the magnetic carrier mixed in the glycerol-water solutions. The 10 μm diameter iron particle was used only to model the magnetic carrier in experimental investigation (not intended for clinical use), to demonstrate the feasibility of the particle targeting. Magnetic fields are generated by NdFeB external magnet. Positioning permanent magnet near to the diseased area resulted in a deviation of the injected ferromagnetic particles within the blood flux and their capture onto the wall of the bypass graft test section. To increase the accumulation of the particles in the targeted region, it is critical to understand the effect of the flow structure on particle deposition, namely interaction between the instabilities formed in the primary vortex of the anastomosis region. The results presented in this paper, put in evidence the blood constituents migrations to the artery wall for the specific flow pattern (through used iron particles), and demonstrate the feasibility of the magnetic drug targeting as a potential alternative method for effective treatment of the bypass graft intimal hyperplasia.