Computational Fluid Dynamics Modeling of Diffusion-Convection Processes on Dynamic Microfluidic Cell Culture Platforms

Abstract

Microfluidic-based biochemical analyzes and recent developments in cell/tissue engineering are based on controlling spatio-temporally mass transfer in microfluidic systems. These systems are useful tools for controlling the cellular microenvironment and simulating tissue-like structures, as well as performing high-throughput analysis. Therefore, modeling of transport processes of biomolecules in microsystems is a valuable and useful analytical tool that facilitates the design of microfluidic platforms and quantitative biological analysis. Within the scope of the study, an analytical model was created that shows the mass transfer profile by emphasizing the diffusion and convection processes of biomolecules in a single-channel microfluidic platform for drug transport applications. In order to mimic the flow dynamics of cellular physiological environments, the microsystem was established with a peristaltic pump that can provide pulsatile laminar fluid flow. Numerical simulation of the microsystem was performed using COMSOL software to numerically examine the effects of biomechanical forces (flow rate, concentration, pressure distribution and shear stress) acting on cells under dynamic flow conditions. It is thought that the simulated microfluidic analytical model can be used as a basis for system design and parameter selection in the development of microfluidic platforms to be used for cell culture, biological analyzes and drug delivery systems.