Life sciences and biotechnologies

CFD simulation for life sciences and biotechnologies

The functioning of living organisms, although extremely complex, is nevertheless governed by the laws of general physics, and in particular those of fluid mechanics. As such, our computational fluid dynamics simulation tools are capable of providing numerous solutions to the complex problems encountered by life science industrialists: biodynamics, blood flows, rhinosinus pathologies. These innovative approaches bring a fresh perspective to life sciences.

CFD applications in life sciences and biotechnology are vast, ranging from bioreactor design to cell culture optimization and blood flow modeling.

Here are just a few examples of CFD’s main applications in the biotech and life sciences sectors.

Bioreactor design and optimization

Bioreactors are mainly used for the production of biomolecules, vaccines and drugs. CFD simulation can be used to improve their design and optimize internal processes.

• Modeling nutrient and oxygen distribution: In bioreactors, homogeneous distribution of nutrients and oxygen is essential for cell survival and growth. CFD modeling can be used to simulate these flows to ensure homogeneous distribution in the culture medium, thus avoiding dead or undernourished zones.
• Design and optimization of agitation systems: By simulating the mechanical forces generated by agitation systems in bioreactors, CFD helps minimize the shear rates to which cells are subjected, while maximizing mixing efficiency.
• Control of biomanufacturing environments: CFD simulation enables reactor configurations or process parameters to be tested virtually before they are actually implemented, reducing development times and costs while increasing the reliability of results.

Microfluidics

Microfluidic devices are increasingly used in biotechnology, notably for applications in diagnostics, cell manipulation and drug testing.

• Simulating flows in microchannels: CFD computation enables accurate modeling of flows in micrometer-scale devices, helping to design systems capable of handling fluids in a controlled way for applications such as rapid diagnostics or cell sorting.

Blood and Cardiovascular Flow Modeling

Modeling blood flow and its interaction with cardiovascular structures is a major challenge in the life sciences.

• Simulation of flows in arteries and veins: Numerical simulation makes it possible to model blood flow and its complex rheology in different parts of the cardiovascular system, helping to understand pathologies such as arterial stenosis, aneurysms and atherosclerosis. These simulations help predict the evolution of these conditions and guide therapeutic choices.
• Design and optimization of stents and vascular prostheses: Thanks to CFD simulation, engineers can test different stent and prosthesis designs to minimize the risk of thrombosis and improve compatibility with blood flow, thus guaranteeing better clinical performance.

Improving medical devices

CFD simulation is also used to design and optimize medical devices used in a variety of treatments.

• Modeling flows in dialysis machines: In dialysis machines, CFD helps optimize blood and dialysis fluid flows to maximize filtration efficiency while minimizing the risk of coagulation or malfunction.
• Simulation of joint prostheses: CFD can be used to simulate the interaction between body fluids and orthopedic implants, such as hip or knee replacements. This enables materials and geometries to be optimized to improve lubrication, and reduce wear and post-operative complications.

CFD modeling in the ENT field

• Respiratory cycle simulation: based on a CT scan performed in the context of medical practice, CFD simulation can be used to recreate the patient’s airways and simulate breathing in different situations, enabling better quantification of respiratory comfort and diseases.
• Simulation of nasal cleansing: similarly, it is possible to model different nasal cleansing devices and quantify their effects and differences, in terms of abrasion capacity or the spatial extent of their impact.

Industrial fermentation

In fermentation processes, widely used to produce biofuels, enzymes or pharmaceuticals, CFD modeling offers performance optimization.

• Improved heat and mass transfer efficiency: Modeling and optimizing heat and mass transfer processes in fermentation reactors, through numerical calculations, ensures faster fermentation and higher yields.
• Aeration and agitation control: In fermentation systems, good aeration and efficient mixing are essential to promote microbial growth and maximize production. CFD simulation makes it possible to optimize these parameters, reducing energy costs and boosting productivity.

Conclusion

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation has many applications in the life sciences and biotechnology sectors. Many examples are given here, but the list is far from exhaustive: as in other sectors, innovations are numerous, and CFD is a tool of choice to support R&D players, reducing development costs as well as the number of tests required to produce a functional product.

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