Optimization of intraperitoneal aerosolized drug delivery using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Drug Delivery Systems
• Computational Fluid Dynamics

Background:

• Intraperitoneal (IP) aerosolized chemotherapy is a novel approach for treating peritoneal metastases.
• Understanding the influence of treatment parameters on aerosol droplet distribution within the peritoneal cavity is crucial for efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of droplet size, liquid flow rate, viscosity, and electrostatic fields on the homogeneity of IP aerosol distribution.
• To identify optimal parameters for enhancing spatial distribution of aerosolized drugs in the peritoneal cavity.

Main Methods:

• Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling was employed to simulate aerosol behavior.
• Experimental validation was conducted to confirm CFD model predictions.
• Various parameters including droplet size (1-30 µm), flow rates, liquid viscosities, and electrostatic field strengths were systematically evaluated.

Main Results:

• Optimal spatial distribution was achieved with small droplet sizes (1-5 µm).
• For clinically relevant droplet sizes (30 µm), a liquid flow rate of 0.6 mL s⁻¹ yielded optimal distribution.
• Higher viscosity liquids resulted in less homogeneous distribution compared to saline.
• Electrostatic precipitation significantly improved homogeneity, with optimal results observed up to 6.5 kV.

Conclusions:

• Treatment parameters critically influence the spatial distribution of IP aerosolized drugs.
• Selecting appropriate parameters, such as small droplet size and electrostatic fields, can optimize drug deposition.
• These findings provide a basis for refining IP aerosol chemotherapy delivery to potentially enhance anticancer efficacy.