The paper discusses a Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) model for the analysis of the multiphase flow occurring in an experimental microfluidic device for conformal coating of pancreatic islets with a biocompatible and permeable polymer. The proposed numerical model, based on a weakly-compressible SPH approach, accurately mimics the encapsulation process while assuring phase conservation, thus overcoming potential limitations of grid-based models. The proposed SPH model is a triphasic multi-phase model that allows one: (i) to reproduce the physics of islet conformal coating, including the effects of surface tension at the interface of the involved fluids and of the islet diameter; and (ii) to evaluate how modulation of process parameters influences the fluid dynamics within the microfluidic device and the resulting coating characteristics. This model can represent a valuable, time- and cost-effective tool for the definition of optimized encapsulation conditions through in silico screening of novel combinations of conformal coating parameters, including polymeric coating blends, size range of insulin-secreting cell clusters, utilized chemical reagents, device geometry and scale.
Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics multiphase modelling of an experimental microfluidic device for conformal coating of pancreatic islets / Sibilla, S.; Manenti, S.; Cazzato, T.; Colombo, F.; Tomei, A. A.; Redaelli, A.; Manzoli, V.; Consolo, F.. - In: MEDICAL ENGINEERING & PHYSICS. - ISSN 1350-4533. - 77:(2020), pp. 19-30. [10.1016/j.medengphy.2020.01.004]
Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics multiphase modelling of an experimental microfluidic device for conformal coating of pancreatic islets.
Consolo F.
2020-01-01
Abstract
The paper discusses a Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) model for the analysis of the multiphase flow occurring in an experimental microfluidic device for conformal coating of pancreatic islets with a biocompatible and permeable polymer. The proposed numerical model, based on a weakly-compressible SPH approach, accurately mimics the encapsulation process while assuring phase conservation, thus overcoming potential limitations of grid-based models. The proposed SPH model is a triphasic multi-phase model that allows one: (i) to reproduce the physics of islet conformal coating, including the effects of surface tension at the interface of the involved fluids and of the islet diameter; and (ii) to evaluate how modulation of process parameters influences the fluid dynamics within the microfluidic device and the resulting coating characteristics. This model can represent a valuable, time- and cost-effective tool for the definition of optimized encapsulation conditions through in silico screening of novel combinations of conformal coating parameters, including polymeric coating blends, size range of insulin-secreting cell clusters, utilized chemical reagents, device geometry and scale.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
