Numerical study of blood perfusion and nanoparticle transport in prostate and muscle tumours during intravenous magnetic hyperthermia

• Main Authors: Sreedhara Rao Gunakala, Victor M. Job, Sateesh Sakhamuri, P.V.S.N. Murthy, B.V. Chowdary
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2021-02-01
• Series: Alexandria Engineering Journal
• Subjects: Finite element method; Haematocrit; Intravenous magnetic hyperthermia; Prostate and muscle tumours; Nanoparticle distribution; Two-phase mathematical model
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1110016820305305

In the present work, a two-phase mathematical model of intravenous magnetic (Fe3O4,Fe2O3 or FePt) nanoparticle hyperthermia is considered for the treatment of muscle and prostate tumours. The blood-nanoparticle suspension is described as a non-Newtonian (Quemada) nanofluid, and the effects of thermophoresis and Brownian motion are considered. The blood vessel region is surrounded by a cancerous (muscle or prostate) tumour region, a non-cancerous (muscle or prostate) region and a fat layer. Heat is generated within these tissue regions using an external alternating magnetic field. A numerical solution of the problem is obtained using the mixed finite element method with P2-P1 Taylor-Hood elements. Using this numerical solution, the influence of tumour size, blood vessel radius and haematocrit on blood flow, convective heat transfer, nanoparticle mass transport and blood pressure is examined.