Mathematical modeling of thermally-induced thermosensitive liposomes for oncological treatment drug delivery

Cancer remains one of the greatest challenges humanity has ever faced. Even though there have been many advancements in improving life expectancy and screening, there is still a pressing need for novel techniques or the refinement of existing ones. In this context, thermal therapies—such as thermal ablation, oncological hyperthermia, or thermally-driven drug delivery—emerge as potential solutions, making the study of heat transfer of primary importance from an engineering perspective. This chapter focuses on thermosensitive liposomes, where drugs enclosed in lipid bilayers are injected into the body and released when delivered heat melts the protective layer. In the first section, the technology is introduced. The second section covers predictive models for heat transfer, fluid flow (including transcapillary flow), and drug delivery mass transport, with specific reference to the three-compartment model. The third section presents recent case studies of interest to the engineering and medical communities, where thermosensitive liposomes are activated via alternating magnetic fields, radiofrequencies, microwaves, or focused ultrasounds. This chapter aims to provide an overview of the state-of-the-art modeling in this field, alongside relevant case studies and suggestions for future research to advance knowledge in this multidisciplinary domain.