Computational study of particle size effects on selective binding of nanoparticles in arterial stenosis

In order to elucidate particle size and wall shear effects on the selective binding of nanoparticles to vessel wall, particle binding to the wall of arterial stenosis was computationally analyzed using a transport and reaction model. The attachment rate constant was modeled as a function of shear rate and particle size. The results showed that it had a positive correlation with the shear rate for particles smaller than 600 nm and a negative correlation with the shear rate for particles larger than 800 nm. Small size particles showed high binding selectivity in the stenosis region for the normal and shear-activated wall, whereas large particles showed high binding selectivity in the low and oscillatory zone for the shear-activated wall.