Magnetic drug targeting: An analytical model for the influence of blood properties on particle trajectories

Investigations on the behaviour of superparamagnetic nanoparticles under the influence of a high gradient magnetic field in the vascular system is required for a better under-standing of magnetic drug targeting. The influence on the particle transport of the non-Newtonian and Newtonian properties of blood as well as the influence of the heart rate was therefore studied. A analytical model was developed and the calculation of particle trajectories is presented and evaluated. The results show that the non-Newtonian properties of the blood have a positive influence on the number of retended nanoparticles. The calculations also showed thatthe number of retained nanoparticles was lower in oscillatory flow profile than in steady flow. The influence of the heart rate can be neglected for Womersley numbers smaller than 1-5.