Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics multiphase modelling of an experimental microfluidic device for conformal coating of pancreatic islets

Med Eng Phys. 2020 Mar:77:19-30. doi: 10.1016/j.medengphy.2020.01.004. Epub 2020 Jan 31.

Abstract

The paper discusses a Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) model for the analysis of the multiphase flow occurring in an experimental microfluidic device for conformal coating of pancreatic islets with a biocompatible and permeable polymer. The proposed numerical model, based on a weakly-compressible SPH approach, accurately mimics the encapsulation process while assuring phase conservation, thus overcoming potential limitations of grid-based models. The proposed SPH model is a triphasic multi-phase model that allows one: (i) to reproduce the physics of islet conformal coating, including the effects of surface tension at the interface of the involved fluids and of the islet diameter; and (ii) to evaluate how modulation of process parameters influences the fluid dynamics within the microfluidic device and the resulting coating characteristics. This model can represent a valuable, time- and cost-effective tool for the definition of optimized encapsulation conditions through in silico screening of novel combinations of conformal coating parameters, including polymeric coating blends, size range of insulin-secreting cell clusters, utilized chemical reagents, device geometry and scale.

Keywords: Biphasic fluid; Cell clusters; Encapsulation; Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics; Surface tension.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Hydrodynamics*
  • Islets of Langerhans*
  • Lab-On-A-Chip Devices*
  • Models, Theoretical*
  • Surface Tension
  • Time Factors