In silico study of enhanced permeation and retention effect and hyperthermia of porous tumor
Muhammad Suleman, Samia Riaz
Abstract
Nanotechnology has recently gained fame for its extensive use in biomedical applications particularly in magnetic fluid hyperthermia (MFH) of tumors. The magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) are usually injected into the tumor either intravenously or through direct needle injection. Depending on the location of the tumor, the needle approach may not be appropriate and in the case, when the nanoflow rate is higher, it may produce cracks in the tumor. In this scenario, the intravenous approach following the enhanced permeation and retention effect (EPR) effect proves advantageous. In this paper, we have simulated the EPR effect of nanofluid flowing from blood vessels to the tumor through epithelial cells spacing and then its diffusion in the tumor interstitium using COMSOL Multiphysics. The velocity in the blood vessel and diffusion in the tumor have been simulated and analyzed using Finite Element Method (FEM) based models of Navier-Stokes equations and convection-diffusion equation. The simulation results show that the velocity and concentration are higher in the blood vessel and it decreases slowly while moving through epithelial spacing to the tumor interstitium. The heat transfer in the tumor interstitium is simulated and analyzed for temperature distribution quantitatively.