title: Positive pressure infusion of therapeutic agents into brain tissues: mathematical and experimental simulations.
abstract: Positive pressure infusion is a clinical means of achieving convection-enhanced delivery of therapeutic agents within the tissues of the central nervous system for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme and other diseases of the brain. We have developed a mathematical model of the technique and an in vitro gelatin surrogate for it, which provide biophysical insights into the performance characteristics of candidate infusion systems and drug delivery protocols. We present a brief overview of the clinical problems that are being addressed, succinctly describe the mathematical and in vitro models used in our laboratories, and highlight some representative results from our studies. A number of references to related work are provided for those seeking further details.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Virginia, P.O. Box 400746, Charlottesville, VA 22904-4746, USA. gtg@virginia.edu
authors.forename: George T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Gillies
authors.forename: Joshua H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Joseph A C
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Humphrey
authors.forename: William C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Broaddus
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007260:Infusion Pumps; D015233:Models, Statistical; D011312:Pressure; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents