Mathematical Modeling Of Magnetic Scaffolds For Targeted Drug Delivery
And Bone Repair
- Matteo Bruno Lodi ,
- Alessandro Fanti ,
- Andrea Vargiu ,
- Maurizio Bozzi ,
- Giuseppe Mazzarella
Abstract
Magnetic bone substitutes are multifunctional nanocomposite biomaterials
designed to serve as an in situ attraction platform for magnetic
carriers of growth factors. The morphological and functional properties
of these biomaterials were characterized so far, but very little is
known on the treatment dynamics, and the latter cannot be designed from
an engineering point of view. For the first time, this work deals with
the mathematical modeling of the use of magnetic scaffolds and
functionalized nanoparticles to evaluate the enhancement of osteogenesis
and bone repair. The non-linear magnetization of the scaffolds is
considered to simulate the attraction and transport of magnetic
nanoparticles. Different biomaterials and drug carriers from the
literature are analyzed. The drug release via RF-heating is modeled
considering the multiphysics nature of the phenomena. The physiological
process of bone healing is reproduced using nine non-linear equations.
The influence of the delivered growth factor on osteogenesis is assessed
and quantified in silico, while compared to numerical simulations of
intravenous injection of growth factor and to its release from the
biomaterial. The exploitation of magnetic carriers of biomolecules with
magnetic scaffolds allows to produce a more homogeneous and uniform
distribution of mature bone, overcoming the limitation of traditional
drug delivery techniques.