In silico study of patient-specific magnetic drug targeting for a coronary LAD atherosclerotic plaque

Abstract

Coronary artery disease is the first cause of death across the world. Targeted delivery of therapeutics through controlled release of micro- and nano-particles remains a very capable approach to develop new strategies in treating restenosis and atherosclerotic plaques. In this research, to produce the arterial geometry, an image-processing was done using CT-scan images of a LAD coronary artery. After implementing the finite element mesh, the Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI) simulation based on physiological boundary conditions was performed. Next, a Lagrangian description of particles dynamics in a non-Newtonian blood flow considering momentum equation of motion for each particle and the imposed external magnetic field was provided. Under the influence of the magnetic field, the optimal particle size scope for which the surface density of particles (SDP) adhered on the plaque lumen reaches its maximum was specified. Also, our results signify that applying a magnetic field can adversely affect the delivery of particles to the targeted site for near micron-size particles. Along with the evaluation of the Brownian and the gravitational forces on nanoparticles, the uniformity of the distribution of particles in the left coronary network with and without the presence of the magnetic field has been studied. In conclusion, the external magnetic field has increased the SDP adhered on the targeted surface by 49.4% and 59.7% for 400 and 600 nm particles, respectively.