Computational Analysis of ZnO and Silver (Ag) Nanoparticles as Drug Delivery Agents in Blood Flowing Through an Artery with Post-Stenotic Dilatation using Ellis Model

This study investigates the complex hemodynamic dynamics within an arterial segment characterized by concurrent stenosis and post-stenotic dilatation. Departing from conventional Newtonian assumptions, blood is modeled as an Ellis non-Newtonian fluid to more accurately capture its rheological behavior under varying physiological conditions. The Ellis model serves as a robust framework for this research, offering the flexibility required to analyze a diverse range of arterial geometries and stenotic severities. Utilizing the Finite Element Method (FEM), an extensive parametric study was conducted to evaluate how modifications in Ellis fluid characteristics influence flow behavior, with a specific emphasis on the post-stenotic dilated region. To further bridge the gap between theoretical modeling and clinical application, the analysis incorporates zinc oxide (ZnO) and silver (Ag) as drug delivery agents, thereby enhancing the physiological relevance and therapeutic utility of the findings. These therapeutic agents exhibit significant promise across diverse cardiovascular applications. This study investigates the multi-faceted impact of stenosis severity, dilatation extent, nanoparticle concentration, and various flow parameters on hemodynamic behavior. The fluid dynamics are characterized by fundamental governing equations, which are numerically resolved using the Finite Element Method (FEM). This approach discretizes the arterial domain into a computational mesh of manageable elements to ensure numerical stability and accuracy. A weak formulation was derived by applying appropriate test functions to the governing partial differential equations (PDEs) and integrating over the domain. To close the system, rigorous boundary conditions were implemented, including no-slip conditions at the vessel walls, normal inward velocity, specified inward heat flux, and a defined outlet pressure. Numerical simulations were performed to analyze velocity profiles, wall shear stress distributions, and pressure gradients across the stenotic and dilated segments. Furthermore, the study examines the influence of temperature variations and heat transfer on blood rheology, employing the Ellis model formulated in cylindrical coordinates. The results indicate that as blood traverses the stenosis, velocity increases concurrently with a pressure drop, driven by elevated flow resistance. Notably, the integration of nanoparticles and the effects of viscous heating contribute to a localized temperature rise within the stenotic region. The findings, illustrated through comprehensive graphical analysis, demonstrate that parametric variations significantly modulate the hemodynamic characteristics of the flow.