title: Capture Efficiency of Biocompatible Magnetic Nanoparticles in Arterial Flow: A Computer Simulation for Magnetic Drug Targeting.
abstract: The primary limitation of magnetic drug targeting (MDT) relates to the strength of an external magnetic field which decreases with increasing distance. Small nanoparticles (NPs) displaying superparamagnetic behaviour are also required in order to reduce embolization in the blood vessel. The small NPs, however, make it difficult to vector NPs and keep them in the desired location. The aims of this work were to investigate parameters influencing the capture efficiency of the drug carriers in mimicked arterial flow. In this work, we computationally modelled and evaluated capture efficiency in MDT with COMSOL Multiphysics 4.4. The studied parameters were (i) magnetic nanoparticle size, (ii) three classes of magnetic cores (Fe3O4, Fe2O3, and Fe), and (iii) the thickness of biocompatible coating materials (Au, SiO2, and PEG). It was found that the capture efficiency of small particles decreased with decreasing size and was less than 5 % for magnetic particles in the superparamagnetic regime. The thickness of non-magnetic coating materials did not significantly influence the capture efficiency of MDT. It was difficult to capture small drug carriers (D<200 nm) in the arterial flow. We suggest that the MDT with high-capture efficiency can be obtained in small vessels and low-blood velocities such as micro-capillary vessels.
authors.affiliation: Materials Science and Nanotechnology Program, Faculty of Science, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand.
authors.forename: Thodsaphon
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lunnoo
authors.affiliation: Materials Science and Nanotechnology Program, Faculty of Science, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand. theerapong@kku.ac.th.|Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand. theerapong@kku.ac.th.|Nanotec-KKU, Center of Excellence on Advanced Nanomaterials for Energy Production and Storage, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand. theerapong@kku.ac.th.
authors.forename: Theerapong
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Puangmali
keywords: Artery; Capture efficiency; Core/shell structure; Magnetic drug targeting