CFD Analysis of Turbulent Particle Deposition in the Lungs

We are constantly inhaling and exhaling solid and liquid particles that are present all around us in the atmosphere. Medicines used to treat pulmonary diseases are also often nebulized, and administered as inhaled particles. Research has shown that only 10 to 20 per cent of the inhaled drugs reaches the lungs. Another study has shown that there is a high correlation between regions with high concentration of deposited particles and bronchial carcinoma origin sites. Studying how particles are transported and deposited in the airways can help in improving drug delivery and targeted therapy of pulmonary diseases. Therefore, numerous researchers have studied particle deposition in the lungs using experiments and computer-aided numerical simulations.