Numerical Simulations of new DES: non-Newtonian and Time Dependent Analysis
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Introduction: Stenting has evolved to an effective alternative to surgery in adult patients but its long-term success is still limited by inflammation processes that affect its efficiency. Current carrier technologies are essentially based on polymer coatings (with the medical compound entrapped or mixed). This approach is essentially dependent on the passive diffusion properties of the compound and coating. New nanomaterials are emerging in the literature as new drug carriers including synthetic micelles, dendrimers, liposomes, emulsions, nanocapsules, nanotubes and nanoparticles [1]. However, the diffusion of these structures can be complex. We present an approach based on effective diffusional properties of the nanomaterial and range analysis to study the dispersion of the compound under specific blood flow conditions. Methods: A Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model is developed to study and evaluate the hemodynamics of the new stent based on the assessment of shear stress and pressure gradients. The advection-diffusion equation is coupled with the fluids mechanics equations to simulate the dispersion of the compound using a concept of effective diffusional properties (based on empirical results). The effects of time dependence (pulsatility), blood newtonianess and compound release characteristics are assessed (local therapeutic window concept [2]). Results and Conclusions: The results show a burst effect of the compound release in the initial phase followed by a prolonged release and the concentration homogeneity varies as a function of the depth in the vascular wall. Interestingly, the range analysis allows to determine a set of optimal diffusional properties and stent design parameters to achieve the best possible homogeneity of compound concentration distribution in the wall. The effective diffusion coefficient appears useful for the assessment of complex drug carriers and experimental protocols are underway, with hydrogel phantoms, for validation. The addition of reactive terms can allow to study reactive compounds with specific targets (e.g. growth factors). REFERENCES [1] Sahu T, Ratre YK, Chauhan S, Bhaskar LVKS, Nair MP, Verma HK. Nanotechnology based drug delivery system: Current strategies and emerging therapeutic potential for medical science. J Drug Delivery Science and Technology 63 (2021) 102487 [2] Mongrain R., Faik I., Leask R., Bulman-Fleming N., Bertrand O.F., Effects of diffusion coefficients and struts apposition using