Convective analysis of carbon nanotubes in catheter for chemotherapy

Abstract

Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally, about one in six deaths is due to cancer. Its treatment comprises of thermal therapy in which affected body tissue is exposed to high temperature. High temperature can destroy cancer cells, usually with minimal injury to normal tissues. In order to achieve high temperature, carbon nanotubes – are used as infrared agents for destruction of cancer cells. These particles produce heat and are helpful in treating malignant tumours. In order to analyse the convective flow of blood, we have considered CNTs in a gap between two coaxial tubes, the inner tube is solid while a sinusoidal wave travelled down the walls of outer tube. The resulting equations through long wavelength and low Reynolds number approaches are solved. Impact of physical quantities is discussed through plots of fluid flow and heat, respectively. CNTs produce heat which is helpful for the treatment of cancer cells in thermal therapy. Addition of nanoparticles enhances the thermal conductivity which increases the temperature. MWCNTs produce more heat than SWCNTs for larger thermal Biot number. Also temperature is higher for MWCNTs as compared to SWCNTs when Brinkman number is enhanced.

Keywords:

• Peristaltic transport
• carbon nanotubes
• blood flow
• convective boundary conditions
• catheter

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).