Numerical study of blood perfusion and nanoparticle transport in prostate and muscle tumours during intravenous magnetic hyperthermia

Abstract

In the present work, a two-phase mathematical model of intravenous magnetic (Fe3O4,Fe2O3 or FePt) nanoparticle hyperthermia is considered for the treatment of muscle and prostate tumours. The blood-nanoparticle suspension is described as a non-Newtonian (Quemada) nanofluid, and the effects of thermophoresis and Brownian motion are considered. The blood vessel region is surrounded by a cancerous (muscle or prostate) tumour region, a non-cancerous (muscle or prostate) region and a fat layer. Heat is generated within these tissue regions using an external alternating magnetic field. A numerical solution of the problem is obtained using the mixed finite element method with P2-P1 Taylor-Hood elements. Using this numerical solution, the influence of tumour size, blood vessel radius and haematocrit on blood flow, convective heat transfer, nanoparticle mass transport and blood pressure is examined.

Keywords

• Finite element method
• Haematocrit
• Intravenous magnetic hyperthermia
• Prostate and muscle tumours
• Nanoparticle distribution
• Two-phase mathematical model