Linear stability analysis of non-Newtonian blood flow with magnetic nanoparticles: application to controlled drug delivery

Abstract

Purpose

For this purpose, a linear stability analysis based on the Navier–Stokes and Maxwell equations is made leading to an eigenvalue differential equation of the modified Orr–Sommerfeld type which is solved numerically by the spectral collocation method based on Chebyshev polynomials. Unlike previous studies, blood is considered as a non-Newtonian fluid. The effects of various parameters such as volume fraction of nanoparticles, Casson parameter, Darcy number, Hartmann number on flow stability were examined and presented. This paper aims to investigate a linear stability analysis of non-Newtonian blood flow with magnetic nanoparticles with an application to controlled drug delivery.

Design/methodology/approach

Targeted delivery of therapeutic agents such as stem cells and drugs using magnetic nanoparticles with the help of external magnetic fields is an emerging treatment modality for many diseases. To this end, controlling the movement of nanoparticles in the human body is of great importance. This study investigates controlled drug delivery by using magnetic nanoparticles in a porous artery under the influence of a magnetic field.

Findings

It was found the following: the Casson parameter affects the stability of the flow by amplifying the amplitude of the disturbance which reflects its destabilizing effect. It emerges from this study that the taking into account of the non-Newtonian character is essential in the modeling of such a system, and that the results can be very different from those obtained by supposing that the blood is a Newtonian fluid. The presence of iron oxide nanoparticles in the blood increases the inertia of the fluid, which dampens the disturbances. The Strouhal number has a stabilizing effect on the flow which makes it possible to say that the oscillating circulation mechanisms dampen the disturbances. The Darcy number affects the stability of the flow and has a stabilizing effect, which makes it possible to increase the contact surface between the nanoparticles and the fluid allowing very high heat transfer rates to be obtained. It also emerges from this study that the presence of the porosity prevents the sedimentation of the nanoparticles. By studying the effect of the magnetic field on the stability of the flow, it is observed that the Hartmann number keeps the flow completely stable. This allows saying that the magnetic field makes the dissipations very important because the kinetic energy of the electrically conductive ferrofluid is absorbed by the Lorentz force.

Originality/value

The originality of this paper resides on the application of the linear stability analysis for controlled drug delivery.

Citation

Tiam Kapen, P., Njingang Ketchate, C.G., Fokwa, D. and Tchuen, G. (2022), "Linear stability analysis of non-Newtonian blood flow with magnetic nanoparticles: application to controlled drug delivery", International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, Vol. 32 No. 2, pp. 714-739. https://doi.org/10.1108/HFF-03-2021-0161