EFFECT OF ARTERIOLAR DISTENSIBILITY ON THE LATERAL MIGRATION OF LIQUID-FILLED MICROPARTICLES FLOWING IN A HUMAN ARTERIOLE

Abstract

A promising advance of bioengineering consists in the development of micro-nanoparticles as drug delivery vehicles injected intravenously or intraarterialy for targeted treatment. Proficient functioning of drug carries is conditioned by a reliable prediction of pharmacokinetics in human as well as their dynamical behavior once injected in blood stream. In this study, we aim to provide a reliable numerical prediction of dynamical behavior of microparticles in human arteriole focusing on the crucial mechanism of lateral migration. The dynamical response of the microparticle upon blood flow and arteriolar distensibility is investigated by varying main controlling parameters: viscosity ratio, confinement and capillary number. The influence of the hyperelastic arteriolar wall is highlighted through comparison with an infinitely rigid arteriolar wall. The hydrodynamic interaction in a microparticle train is examined. Fluid–structure interaction is solved by the Arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian method using the COMSOL Multiphysics software.