On Mathematical Analysis of Active Drug Transport Coupled With Flow-Induced Diffusion in Blood Vessels

IEEE Trans Nanobioscience. 2021 Jan;20(1):105-115. doi: 10.1109/TNB.2020.3038635. Epub 2020 Dec 30.

Abstract

Blood vessels are flow-induced diffusive molecular channels equipped with transport mechanisms across their walls for conveying substances between the organs in the body. Mathematical modeling of the blood vessel as a molecular transport channel can be used for the characterization of the underlying processes and higher-level functions in the circulatory system. Besides, the mathematical model can be utilized for designing and realizing nano-scale molecular communication systems for healthcare applications including drug delivery systems. In this paper, a continuous-time Markov chain framework is proposed to simply model active transport mechanisms e.g. transcytosis, across the single-layered endothelial cells building the inner vessel wall. Correspondingly, a general homogeneous boundary condition over the vessel wall is introduced. Coupled with the derived boundary condition, the flow-induced diffusion problem in an ideal vessel structure with a cylindrical shape is accurately formulated which takes into account variation in all three dimensions. The corresponding concentration Green's function is analytically derived in terms of a convergent infinite series. Particle-based simulation results confirm the proposed analysis. Also, the effects of system parameters on the concentration Green's function are examined.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biological Transport
  • Biological Transport, Active
  • Diffusion
  • Endothelial Cells
  • Pharmaceutical Preparations*

Substances

  • Pharmaceutical Preparations