Numerical simulations of targeted delivery of magnetic drug aerosols in the human upper and central respiratory system: a validation study

In the present study, we investigate the concept of the targeted delivery of pharmaceutical drug aerosols in an anatomically realistic geometry of the human upper and central respiratory system. The geometry considered extends from the mouth inlet to the 8th generation of the bronchial bifurcations and is identical to the phantom model used in the experimental studies of [Banko {em et al.} (2015), Exp. Fluids, {bf 56} (117):1-12]. In our computer simulations, we combine the transitional Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) and the wall-resolved Large Eddy Simulation (LES) methods for the air phase with the Lagrangian approach for the particulate (aerosol) phase. We validated simulations against recently obtained magnetic resonance velocimetry (MRV) measurements of [Banko {em et al.} (2015), Exp. Fluids, {bf 56} (117):1-12] that provide full a 3D mean velocity field for steady inspiratory conditions. Both approaches produced good agreement with experiments, and the transitional RANS a...