Mathematical Modeling of Concentration Flux in Thermosensitive Biopolymer-assisted Drug Delivery

Scott Poh; Chase Leehy; Jolin Rodrigues; Eric Sherer

Abstract

A mathematical model of drug concentration flux across thermosensitive biopolymer with degradable cross-link was developed to predict the effect of the physical configuration and chemical composition of thermosensitive biopolymer on the kinetics of MK2 inhibitor peptide drug release. The overall goal of this research was to efficiently model the 3D drug release kinetics of a controlled drug from a double-shell spherical nanoparticle. The newly developed model would be used to predict the diffusion coefficient and mass flux of any drug released from a spherical nanoparticle by utilizing experimental data in pharmacology. Mass transport principles such as Fick’s Law and the continuity equation were applied to experimental data from an ongoing drug release study. The subsequent analysis investigated the flux of the drug particles over time, the change of concentration over a radius of the sphere, and the percentage of drug remaining. This computational study culminated in estimating the location of the inner shell and the limit of drug transport, which can be used to tailor the physical and chemical characteristics of nanoparticles for the controlled release and delivery of encapsulated drugs in subsequent models.

Abstract

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