Numerical investigation of drug delivery by using magnetic field in a 90-degree bent vessel: a 3D simulation

Magnetic drug delivery as a potential method to treat diseases such as cancer tumors has attracted the attention of many researchers. One of the problems in conventional and ineffective therapies is the spread of drug in the circulatory system. The method of magnetic drug delivery aims at directing the drug to the localized area of disease by using a magnetic field. Considering the effects of parameters such as non-Newtonian viscosity, oscillatory input, motion and the presence of atherosclerosis, the present study examines the magnetic drug delivery, which is under the influence of magnetic field, in a 90-degree bent in three situations of without atherosclerosis, a moderate atherosclerosis of 45% and severe atherosclerosis of 75% in two states of fixed vessel and moving vessel arising from the expansion and contraction of the heart. The magnetic field is in the range of [Formula: see text] T, and the diameter of magnetic particles varies from 1 to 6 μm. The comparison of particle absorption percentage for different atherosclerosis revealed that the presence of atherosclerosis increases the value of particle absorption percentage. The results of comparison between fixed vessel and moving vessel indicate that the percentage of particle absorption is higher when the vessel is moving. In the presence of magnetic field, the maximum value of absorption percentage is 76.93% for the moving vessel with 75% atherosclerosis and the particles with the diameter of 6 μm and this value is equal to 75.65% when the vessel is considered fixed. Regardless of the size of particle, this value is approximately 15.8% and 3% for the moving vessel and the fixed vessel, respectively, when no magnetic force is applied to the vessel.