Modelling Transport Phenomena of Nanoparticles in Drug Delivery Therapy

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Small particles of size less than 100 nanometer are bringing revolutionary technological changes. A nanometer is one billionth of a meter or about a hundred-thousandth the thickness of a human hair. Such particles referred to as nanoparticles, are finding applications in many fields such as energy, environmental engineering and drug therapy. It is in the latter that this research finds its motivation and one of its main intended applications. Existing cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation are known to induce negative side effects due to their non-specificity where healthy cells are damaged in the process of destroying cancerous ones. New techniques based on nanoparticles are being developed, where the injected nanoparticles travel through the blood to carry out their therapeutic mission once they reach the tumor. The mission may be the delivery of a therapeutic drug or the release of heat. This latter technique, known as thermotherapy, uses the fact that cancer cells are more sensitive to heat than healthy ones. Engineered nanoparticles are similarly used to carry missions of degrading or transforming contaminants for the purpose of water or soil remediation. Regardless of the application, the success of the techniques depends on how the nanoparticles travel and distribute when they reach their destination. Due to many factors, there is currently limited control on the nanoparticles fate and it is critical to develop an understanding of the effects of these factors on the particles journey, and in turn their efficiency. Out of the many known factors, the particles size has been identified as one of the most important. Existing relevant studies assume that all particles have the same size. In addition, these studies do not account for a number of mechanisms including special heat effects, as for example encountered in thermotherapy. As a result, we do not currently know how these aspects actually affect the particles transport and distribution. This research will look closely at these aspects and their effects on the particles journey by considering particles with a wide range of sizes and by factoring the role of heat transfer. The analysis will examine flows of nanoparticles through geometries such as small pipes or blood vessels, their interactions with other particles as well as pipe walls, and their penetration and distribution in porous structures, such as a tumor. To achieve this, physical models will be developed to capture the main dynamics in the particles journey. The model equations will be solved using advanced simulations techniques based on newly developed numerical algorithms. The research will contribute to the development of new designs and techniques to achieve optimal and efficient nanoparticles delivery with applications primarily in drug delivery but also in soil decontamination and oil recovery. This will translate into benefit to the health and well-being of Canadians and added societal and economic value.