PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) has a profound and negative impact on quality of life (QoL).1 Patients with CRS
possess double the rates of depression, worse fatigue, and poorer sleep than control subjects.2,3 CRS is one of
the most common chronic medical conditions worldwide, affecting all age groups. Its incidence is ~12.3% with an
economic burden of greater than $60 billion annually in the US. Despite the substantial burden of CRS, sufficient
treatment options have yet to be identified. While the reasons for developing CRS are incompletely understood,
the underlying morbidity results from inflammation in the sinonasal cavity. Inflammation can be decreased by
topical or systemic corticosteroid which blunt the adaptive immune response. While highly efficacious, systemic
corticosteroids have many negative side effects including osteoporosis, mania, weight gain and hyperglycemia.
To reduce adverse effects, topical intranasal corticosteroid sprays (INCS) are applied directly to the anatomic
region affected while minimizing side effects; however, the efficacy of INCS is limited.
Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) uses numerical methods to solve and analyze problems involving fluid flows.
CFD has been used to help understand nasal airflow, effects of sinus surgery and INCS drug delivery. Current
CFD models of INCS demonstrate that >90% of drug deposition occurs at the very front of the sinonasal cavity
and does not reach the paranasal sinuses. However, we have recently utilized mass spectrophotometry to
quantify INCS deposition in patients undergoing sinonasal surgery and found significant discrepancies between
CFD models in silico and tissue deposition in vivo. This discrepancy between current CFD models and in vivo
measurements is the result of static models that do not account for mucociliary clearance (MCC).
The overall goal of this project is to enhance biomedical research capacity and opportunities for student research
by developing a translational CFD program by creating a partnership between Morgan State University and The
University of North Carolina. We will develop a novel CFD with both particle deposition and MCC in consideration
for the drug absorption in nasal cavity, which will be validated by the in-vivo data for the first time: 1) Develop a
translation CFD research program focused on nasal airflow and drug delivery; 2) Model drug intracellular
absorption of INCS through mucous layer; 3) Model mucociliary clearance mediated drug movement in the nasal
passage. This project will generate one key research deliverable: a robust CFD modeling tool to simulate the
realistic drug absorption process in nasal cavity. Our team’s multidisciplinary approach will expand knowledge of
drug absorption in nasal cavity, using well validated and responsible methodology to meaningfully enhance
investigations in CRS. This project will also enrich the research capabilities in biomedical at Morgan State
University as HBCU, provide high-quality research opportunities to students at HBCU, and contribute significantly
to PI’s career development.