Characterizing the Flow and Interaction of Microbubbles in a 2D Capillary Network for Targeted Drug Delivery: A Simulation Study

Purpose: Microbubble ultrasound contrast agents inside the bloodstream enhance the ultrasound signals of the vascular bed. In addition, microbubbles can be used for treatment. The present study assesses how air bubbles flow in a microchannel 2D capillary network. The evaluated network mimics part o...

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Main Authors: Sadegh Shurche, Akram Shahidani, Roghaye Bodaghi Hossein Abadi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Tehran University of Medical Sciences 2025-01-01
Series:Frontiers in Biomedical Technologies
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Online Access:https://fbt.tums.ac.ir/index.php/fbt/article/view/681
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author Sadegh Shurche
Akram Shahidani
Roghaye Bodaghi Hossein Abadi
author_facet Sadegh Shurche
Akram Shahidani
Roghaye Bodaghi Hossein Abadi
author_sort Sadegh Shurche
collection DOAJ
description Purpose: Microbubble ultrasound contrast agents inside the bloodstream enhance the ultrasound signals of the vascular bed. In addition, microbubbles can be used for treatment. The present study assesses how air bubbles flow in a microchannel 2D capillary network. The evaluated network mimics part of a capillary system by comprising multiple bifurcations. Materials and Methods: We designed the capillary network based on the tree pattern employed in quantitative studies per Murray’s minimum work rule and the cardiovascular network to simulate the hemodynamics of the vessels. The maximum width of the main channels in the capillary network is 1085 µm. The capillary network designed by AutoCAD software was transferred to Comsol software. We also ran fluid-structure interaction simulations in a microchannel capillary network, assuming that capillary walls were incompressible and isotropic, physiological boundary conditions were met, and non-Newtonian blood behavior occurred. After these simulations, we investigated Microbubbles’ (MBs’) capacity for targeted drug delivery through the capillary network. Specifically, we distributed four particles with 1 to 5 µm diameters and assessed the resultant performance. Results: The greatest capillary network wall displacement is 0.225 µm. Meanwhile, the maximum velocity was 5.59 mm/s, and the minimum and maximum pressure values were 303.13 Pa and 0.42 Pa. Finally, the MB-MB interaction force exceeded the Brownian and gravitational forces. Therefore, it can be concluded that the MB-MB interaction force is crucial for MB-based targeted drug delivery. The kinetic energy of microbubbles increases while passing through the capillary bed. By increasing the amount of kinetic energy of microbubbles, the probability of adhesion to the capillary wall decreases. As the diameter of microbubbles increases, their energy increases. Conclusion: The kinetic energy of microbubbles in the same conditions is the highest value related to Sonovue and then related to Optison, Micromarker, and Definity, respectively. The highest percentage of passing through the capillary network belongs to the Sonovue with a diameter of 2.5 µm and the lowest percentage of passing through the capillary network belongs to the Definity with a diameter of 1.1 µm.
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spelling doaj-art-30178f1dfab847969e40dd20d71013942025-02-09T08:55:59ZengTehran University of Medical SciencesFrontiers in Biomedical Technologies2345-58372025-01-0112110.18502/fbt.v12i1.17733Characterizing the Flow and Interaction of Microbubbles in a 2D Capillary Network for Targeted Drug Delivery: A Simulation StudySadegh Shurche0Akram Shahidani1Roghaye Bodaghi Hossein Abadi2Department of Medical Physics, School of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, IranDepartment of Medical Physics, School of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, IranDepartment of Medical Physics, School of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran Purpose: Microbubble ultrasound contrast agents inside the bloodstream enhance the ultrasound signals of the vascular bed. In addition, microbubbles can be used for treatment. The present study assesses how air bubbles flow in a microchannel 2D capillary network. The evaluated network mimics part of a capillary system by comprising multiple bifurcations. Materials and Methods: We designed the capillary network based on the tree pattern employed in quantitative studies per Murray’s minimum work rule and the cardiovascular network to simulate the hemodynamics of the vessels. The maximum width of the main channels in the capillary network is 1085 µm. The capillary network designed by AutoCAD software was transferred to Comsol software. We also ran fluid-structure interaction simulations in a microchannel capillary network, assuming that capillary walls were incompressible and isotropic, physiological boundary conditions were met, and non-Newtonian blood behavior occurred. After these simulations, we investigated Microbubbles’ (MBs’) capacity for targeted drug delivery through the capillary network. Specifically, we distributed four particles with 1 to 5 µm diameters and assessed the resultant performance. Results: The greatest capillary network wall displacement is 0.225 µm. Meanwhile, the maximum velocity was 5.59 mm/s, and the minimum and maximum pressure values were 303.13 Pa and 0.42 Pa. Finally, the MB-MB interaction force exceeded the Brownian and gravitational forces. Therefore, it can be concluded that the MB-MB interaction force is crucial for MB-based targeted drug delivery. The kinetic energy of microbubbles increases while passing through the capillary bed. By increasing the amount of kinetic energy of microbubbles, the probability of adhesion to the capillary wall decreases. As the diameter of microbubbles increases, their energy increases. Conclusion: The kinetic energy of microbubbles in the same conditions is the highest value related to Sonovue and then related to Optison, Micromarker, and Definity, respectively. The highest percentage of passing through the capillary network belongs to the Sonovue with a diameter of 2.5 µm and the lowest percentage of passing through the capillary network belongs to the Definity with a diameter of 1.1 µm. https://fbt.tums.ac.ir/index.php/fbt/article/view/681Blood FlowMicrobubbleMicrocirculationDrug Delivery
spellingShingle Sadegh Shurche
Akram Shahidani
Roghaye Bodaghi Hossein Abadi
Characterizing the Flow and Interaction of Microbubbles in a 2D Capillary Network for Targeted Drug Delivery: A Simulation Study
Frontiers in Biomedical Technologies
Blood Flow
Microbubble
Microcirculation
Drug Delivery
title Characterizing the Flow and Interaction of Microbubbles in a 2D Capillary Network for Targeted Drug Delivery: A Simulation Study
title_full Characterizing the Flow and Interaction of Microbubbles in a 2D Capillary Network for Targeted Drug Delivery: A Simulation Study
title_fullStr Characterizing the Flow and Interaction of Microbubbles in a 2D Capillary Network for Targeted Drug Delivery: A Simulation Study
title_full_unstemmed Characterizing the Flow and Interaction of Microbubbles in a 2D Capillary Network for Targeted Drug Delivery: A Simulation Study
title_short Characterizing the Flow and Interaction of Microbubbles in a 2D Capillary Network for Targeted Drug Delivery: A Simulation Study
title_sort characterizing the flow and interaction of microbubbles in a 2d capillary network for targeted drug delivery a simulation study
topic Blood Flow
Microbubble
Microcirculation
Drug Delivery
url https://fbt.tums.ac.ir/index.php/fbt/article/view/681
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AT akramshahidani characterizingtheflowandinteractionofmicrobubblesina2dcapillarynetworkfortargeteddrugdeliveryasimulationstudy
AT roghayebodaghihosseinabadi characterizingtheflowandinteractionofmicrobubblesina2dcapillarynetworkfortargeteddrugdeliveryasimulationstudy