Computational fluid dynamics in the microcirculation and microfluidics: What role can the lattice Boltzmann method play?

Joseph O'Connor*, Philip Day, Parthasarathi Mandal, Alistair Revell

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

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    Abstract

    Patient-specific simulations, efficient parametric analyses, and the study of complex processes that are otherwise experimentally intractable are facilitated through the use of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to study biological flows. This review discusses various CFD methodologies that have been applied across different biological scales, from cell to organ level. Through this discussion the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) is highlighted as an emerging technique capable of efficiently simulating fluid problems across the midrange of scales; providing a practical analytical tool compared to methods more attuned to the extremities of scale. Furthermore, the merits of the LBM are highlighted through examples of previous applications and suggestions for future research are made. The review focusses on applications in the midrange bracket, such as cell-cell interactions, the microcirculation, and microfluidic devices; wherein the inherent mesoscale nature of the LBM renders it well suited to the incorporation of fluid-structure interaction effects, molecular/particle interactions and interfacial dynamics. The review demonstrates that the LBM has the potential to become a valuable tool across a range of emerging areas in bio-CFD, such as understanding and predicting disease, designing lab-on-a-chip devices, and elucidating complex biological processes.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)589-602
    Number of pages14
    JournalIntegrative Biology
    Volume8
    Issue number5
    Early online date8 Apr 2016
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 May 2016

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