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Published on: March 2, 2013
Removal of malaria-infected red blood cells using magnetic cell separators: A computational study
Jeongho Kim1, Mehrdad Massoudi, James F Antaki
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213 USA.
Abstract:
High gradient magnetic field separators have been widely used in a variety of biological applications. Recently, the use of magnetic separators to remove malaria-infected red blood cells (pRBCs) from blood circulation in patients with severe malaria has been proposed in a dialysis-like treatment. The capture efficiency of this process depends on many interrelated design variables and constraints such as magnetic pole array pitch, chamber height, and flow rate. In this paper, we model the malaria-infected RBCs (pRBCs) as paramagnetic particles suspended in a Newtonian fluid. Trajectories of the infected cells are numerically calculated inside a micro-channel exposed to a periodic magnetic field gradient. First-order stiff ordinary differential equations (ODEs) governing the trajectory of particles under periodic magnetic fields due to an array of wires are solved numerically using the 1(st) -5(th) order adaptive step Runge-Kutta solver. The numerical experiments show that in order to achieve a capture efficiency of 99% for the pRBCs it is required to have a longer length than 80 mm; this implies that in principle, using optimization techniques the length could be adjusted, i.e., shortened to achieve 99% capture efficiency of the pRBCs.
Insights
Magnetic separators can remove malaria-infected red blood cells (pRBCs) using a dialysis-like treatment. Optimizing device length is key to achieving 99% pRBC capture efficiency for severe malaria treatment.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Computational Fluid Dynamics
- Parasitology
Background:
- High gradient magnetic field separators are utilized in diverse biological applications.
- Magnetic separation offers a potential treatment for severe malaria by removing infected red blood cells (pRBCs).
- Optimizing capture efficiency in magnetic separators requires understanding variables like pole array pitch, chamber height, and flow rate.
Purpose of the Study:
- To model and numerically simulate the trajectory of malaria-infected red blood cells (pRBCs) in a micro-channel under a periodic magnetic field gradient.
- To determine the required device length for achieving a high capture efficiency of pRBCs.
- To explore the potential for optimizing magnetic separator design for malaria treatment.
Main Methods:
- Modeling pRBCs as paramagnetic particles in a Newtonian fluid.
- Numerical calculation of particle trajectories using a 1st-5th order adaptive step Runge-Kutta solver for stiff ordinary differential equations (ODEs).
- Simulation of particle behavior within a micro-channel subjected to a periodic magnetic field from an array of wires.
Main Results:
- A device length exceeding 80 mm is necessary to achieve 99% capture efficiency for pRBCs under the simulated conditions.
- The study demonstrates the feasibility of high-efficiency pRBC capture using magnetic separation.
- Numerical experiments provide insights into the relationship between design parameters and capture efficiency.
Conclusions:
- Magnetic separation is a viable method for removing pRBCs, offering a potential therapeutic approach for severe malaria.
- Optimization techniques can be applied to reduce the required device length while maintaining high capture efficiency.
- Further research into optimizing magnetic separator design can enhance its clinical applicability for malaria treatment.
