Analysis of microparticle deposition in the human lung by taguchi method and response surface methodology

Wei Hsin Chen, Che Ming Chang, Justus Kavita Mutuku, Su Shiung Lam, Wen Jhy Lee

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The deposition phenomenon of microparticle and SAR-CoV-2 laced bioaerosol in human airways is studied by Taguchi methods and response surface methodology (RSM). The data used herein is obtained from simulations of airflow dynamics and deposition fractions of drug particle aerosols in the downstream airways of asthma patients using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and discrete particle motion (DPM). Three main parameters, including airflow rate, drug dose, and particle size, affecting aerosol deposition in the lungs of asthma patients are examined. The highest deposition fraction (DF) is obtained at the flow rate of 45 L min−1, the drug dose of 200 μg·puff−1, and the particle diameter of 5 μm. The optimized combination of levels for the three parameters for maximum drug deposition is performed via the Taguchi method. The importance of the influencing factors rank as particle size > drug dose > flow rate. RSM reveals that the combination of 30 L min−1, 5 μm, 200 μg·puff has the highest deposition fraction. In part, this research also studied the deposition of bioaerosols contaminated with the SAR-CoV-2 virus, and their lowest DF is 1.15%. The low DF of bioaerosols reduces the probability of the SAR-CoV-2 virus transmission.

Original languageEnglish
Article number110975
JournalEnvironmental Research
Volume197
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2021 Jun

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Biochemistry
  • General Environmental Science

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