The transport of nanoparticles in blood vessels: the effect of vessel permeability and blood rheology.
The longitudinal transport of nanoparticles in blood vessels has been analyzed with blood described as a Casson fluid. Starting from the celebrated Taylor and Aris theory, an explicit expression has been derived for the effective longitudinal diffusion (Deff) depending non-linearly on the rheological parameter xi(c), the ratio between the plug and the vessel radii; and on the permeability parameters pi and omega, related to the hydraulic conductivity and pressure drop across the vessel wall, respectively. An increase of xi(c) or pi has the effect of reducing Deff, and thus both the rheology of blood and the permeability of the vessels may constitute a physiological barrier to the intravascular delivery of nanoparticles.
Gentile
Francesco
F
Center of Bio-/Nanotechnology and -/Engineering for Medicine-BioNEM, University of Magna Graecia at Catanzaro, Viale Europa-Loc. Germaneto, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
Ferrari
Mauro
M
Decuzzi
Paolo
P
D001693:Biological Transport, Active / Q000502:physiology; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D001809:Blood Viscosity / Q000502:physiology*; D002199:Capillary Permeability / Q000502:physiology*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D018056:Hemorheology / Q000379:methods; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000502:physiology*; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D053758:Nanoparticles