Computational Simulation of Franz Diffusion Cell Method for Bacterial Nanocellulose Wound Dressings

Abstract

In this paper, computational simulations were used to analyze the thermo-electro-diffusive behavior of the povidone-iodine (PVI) and the acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) embed in a nanocellulose wound dressing. Mathematical models were determined with Fourier’s law for the thermal model, Maxwell’s equations for the electric phenomena and Fick’s law to model the diffusive behavior to simulate the Franz cell (FC) method. Also, 6 computational models were built to determine effectivity of the FC method in the skin, considering flux conditions for the drug delivery, temperature, and electric conditions. For this models, numerical reticules were designed for the implementation of algorithms using MATLAB and the mathematical equations were solved using Finite Difference Method (FDM). The results showed an appropriate behavior of the diffusive process, were the diffusion of PVI and ASA through epidermis was observed, also in the electric simulation it was observed that the current travel only through the primary layers of the skin; moreover, after the simulation of two thermic processes: heating plate and water bath, the latter proved to be the method that could be more appropriate for applying heat in Franz cells. The results obtained in this paper can provide predictions that could guide future in vitro experimental tests in a more assertive way, also it will allow predicting the behavior of the release of drugs from wound dressings. Also, the algorithms used, and computational tests were a powerful tool that contributes to a more assertive experimental methodology.