Computational analysis of the dispersion of intrathecally injected drugs

• Grant number: 18/19419-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2019
• End date: March 16, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Biomedical Engineering - Bioengineering
• Principal Investigator: Bruno Souza Carmo
• Grantee: Fernanda Teixeira Costa
• Host Institution: Escola Politécnica (EP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 19/10704-1 - Computational and in vitro analysis of intrathecally injected drug dispersion, BE.EP.IC

Abstract

Intrathecal administration of drugs is an attractive option to circumvent the blood-brain barrier in the treatment of pain and spasticity, presenting greater efficacy in treatment with reduction of side effects and better cost-effectiveness. However, there are no clear guidelines for optimal programming of infusion pumps in order to achieve the best possible results. Currently, the choice of parameters and flow modes of the infusion pumps is performed empirically, and there is no method that evaluates how the dispersion of drugs in the cerebrospinal fluid space varies with different programming modes. The objective of this study is to use computational modeling and simulation to predict the distribution of drugs in the subarachnoid space of real patients, analyzing variations in infusion configurations. Representative cases of patients with lesions in the central nervous system will be considered, as well as the flow dynamics of cerebrospinal fluid.