Laser-induced hyperthermia of nanoshell mediated vascularized tissue - A numerical study

Laser-induced hyperthermia treatment of tumor in a 2-D axisymmetric tissue embedded with moderate size (100-150 µm) blood vessels is studied. Laser absorption is enhanced by embedding gold-silica nanoshells in the tumor. Heat transfer in the tissue is modeled using Weinbaum-Jiji bioheat transfer equation. With laser irradiation, the volumetric radiation is accounted in the governing bioheat equation. Radiative information needed in the bioheat equation is calculated using the discrete ordinate method, and the coupled bioheat-radiation equation is solved using the finite volume method. Effects of power density, laser exposure time, beam radius, diameter of blood vessel and volume fractions of nanoshells on temperature spread in the tissue are analyzed.