Fluid dynamics of aggregation and attachment

聚集和附着的流体动力学

• 批准号: EP/X027902/1
• 负责人: Edwina Yeo
• 金额: $ 42.51万
• 依托单位: University College London
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Fellowship
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2023 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=EP%2FX027902%2F1
• 关键词: Fluid; dynamics; aggregation; attachment

Flow-mediated aggregation and attachment of microscale species to surfaces is pervasive in industrial, biological and pharmacological processes, ranging from bacterial colonisation of surgical implants to biomaterial manufacture. Since fluid stress and boundaries can alter the shape, swimming direction and biological function of bacterial cells and proteins, fluid flow can either promote or reduce aggregation. Continuum modelling is well suited to capture these processes over the length scales and timescales relevant to industrial systems and biological functions. However, continuum models which are not grounded in microscale processes are often unable to provide quantitative predictions. In this fellowship, I will develop a framework to incorporate accurate flow-mediated microscale dynamics of fluid-responsive species into macroscale models of aggregating systems. I will apply this methodology to study two systems with timely relevance to industry and healthcare: biofilm formation in porous media and therapeutic protein aggregation during injection. This framework will be developed theoretically by first modelling attachment under shear in kinetic microscale continuum models, then exploring under which parameter regimes a mean-field description of the microscale dynamics can be reached. I will then incorporate these microscale continuum dynamics into macroscopic fluid models using homogenisation and asymptotic multiple scales analysis. These models which will be validated using experimental and microscale simulated data both at the microscale and macroscale and will then be used to predict ways of minimising clogging in both systems through control of flow parameters and device design. This work will produce new theoretical advances in continuum modelling, as well as quantitative predictions to guide the treatment of antibiotic-resistant infections, manufacturing of therapeutic drugs and the delivery of vaccines, with beneficial impacts on millions of people worldwide.

在工业、生物和药理学过程中，从外科植入物的细菌定植到生物材料的制造，微米级物种的流动介导的聚集和附着在表面上广泛存在。由于流体压力和边界可以改变细菌细胞和蛋白质的形状、游泳方向和生物功能，所以流体流动可以促进或减少聚集。连续介质模型非常适合于在与工业系统和生物功能相关的长度、尺度和时间尺度上捕捉这些过程。然而，没有建立在微尺度过程基础上的连续介质模型往往不能提供定量预测。在这项研究中，我将开发一个框架，将流体响应型物种的精确流动中介微尺度动力学整合到聚集系统的宏观模型中。我将应用这种方法来研究两个与工业和医疗保健及时相关的系统：多孔介质中生物膜的形成和注射过程中的治疗性蛋白质聚集。这一框架将首先在动力学微尺度连续介质模型中模拟剪切作用下的附着体，然后探索在什么参数范围下可以得到微尺度动力学的平均场描述，从而从理论上发展这个框架。然后，我将使用均匀化和渐近多尺度分析将这些微观连续统动力学结合到宏观流体模型中。这些模型将使用微观和宏观两个尺度的实验和微观模拟数据进行验证，然后将用于通过控制流动参数和设备设计来预测将两个系统的堵塞降至最低的方法。这项工作将在连续统建模以及定量预测方面产生新的理论进展，以指导抗生素耐药感染的治疗、治疗性药物的制造和疫苗的交付，对全球数百万人产生有益影响。