The effect of magnetic nanoparticle dispersion on temperature distribution in a spherical tissue in magnetic fluid hyperthermia using the lattice Boltzmann method

Abstract

In clinical applications of magnetic fluid hyperthermia (MFH) for cancer treatment it is very important to ensure maximum damage to the tumour while protecting the normal tissue. The resultant heating pattern by magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) in the tumour is closely related to the dispersion of MNPs. In this study the effect of MNPs dispersion on temperature distribution in a tumour and surrounding healthy tissue, during MFH, has been investigated. Accordingly, the Pennes bio-heat equation (BHE) in a spherical tissue with Neumann curved boundary condition has been resolved. The effects of blood perfusion, metabolism heat generation as well as MNPs heat dissipation in an alternating magnetic field as source term, have been considered. To solve the Pennes BHE, the three dimensional lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) has been used. To show the accuracy of the model, simulations have been compared with analytical, experimental and numerical results, reported in the literature. Then, temperature distribution within tissue has been investigated in two cases, homogeneous distribution and Gaussian distribution of specific absorption rate (SAR). Results showed that for the studied cases, unlike homogeneous distribution, Gaussian distribution of SAR is able to raise the temperature of tumour cells above the treatment temperature.