AUTHOR=Kiwumulo Henry Fenekansi , Muwonge Haruna , Ibingira Charles , Lubwama Michael , Kirabira John Baptist , Ssekitoleko Robert Tamale TITLE=A di-electrophoretic simulation procedure of iron-oxide micro-particle drug attachment system for leukemia treatment using COMSOL software: a potential treatment reference for LMICs JOURNAL=Frontiers in Medical Technology VOLUME=5 YEAR=2023 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medical-technology/articles/10.3389/fmedt.2023.1250964 DOI=10.3389/fmedt.2023.1250964 ISSN=2673-3129 ABSTRACT=Background

Leukemia encompasses various subtypes, each with unique characteristics and treatment approaches. The challenge lies in developing targeted therapies that can effectively address the specific genetic mutations or abnormalities associated with each subtype. Some leukemia cases may become resistant to existing treatments over time making them less susceptible to chemotherapy or other standard therapies.

Objective

Developing new treatment strategies to overcome resistance is an ongoing challenge particularly in Low and Middle Income Countries (LMICs). Computational studies using COMSOL software could provide an economical, fast and resourceful approach to the treatment of complicated cancers like leukemia.

Methods

Using COMSOL Multiphysics software, a continuous flow microfluidic device capable of delivering anti-leukemia drugs to early-stage leukemia cells has been computationally modeled using dielectrophoresis (DEP).

Results

The cell size difference enabled the micro-particle drug attachment to the leukemia cells using hydrodynamic focusing from the dielectrophoretic force. This point of care application produced a low voltage from numerically calculated electrical field and flow speed simulations.

Conclusion

Therefore, such a dielectrophoretic low voltage application model can be used as a computational treatment reference for early-stage leukemia cells with an approximate size of 5 μm.