Acoustic-Magnetic Synergy for Olfactory Drug Delivery to the Brain

Department of Marine Engineering, Chabahar Maritime University, Chabahar, Iran

^*Corresponding author: Mohammad Yaghoub Abdollahzadeh Jamalabadi, Department of Marine Engineering, Chabahar Maritime University, Chabahar, Iran, Phone: +9854338515, Email: [email protected]

Received Date: April 03, 2026

Published Date: September 17, 2026

Citation: Jamalabadi MYA. (2026). Acoustic-Magnetic Synergy for Olfactory Drug Delivery to the Brain. Mathews J Pharma Sci. 10(2):64

Copyrights: : Jamalabadi MYA. © (2026).

ABSTRACT

Objective: Nose-to-brain (N2B) drug delivery offers a promising route to bypass the blood-brain barrier, yet achieving therapeutic particle deposition in the olfactory region remains challenging due to the complex nasal anatomy. This study investigates a novel dual-mechanism approach combining acoustic radiation forces and magnetic guidance to enhance olfactory drug delivery.

Methods: A comprehensive computational model was developed using finite element analysis and particle tracing in four anatomically accurate nasal cavity geometries reconstructed from MRI scans of healthy adults. The model incorporated: (1) acoustic field simulation at frequencies from 9–19 kHz with 50 Hz resolution, (2) magnetic field modeling for single- and dual-magnet configurations (0.04–0.2 T/m gradients), and (3) coupled particle dynamics for ferromagnetic particles (1–10 μm diameter). Over 8,000 simulation cases were analyzed to evaluate olfactory deposition efficiency under combined acoustic-magnetic actuation.

Results: Frequency analysis identified eigenfrequencies (9–19 kHz) that create favorable acoustic pressure fields directing particles toward the olfactory region. Acoustic radiation alone achieved maximum olfactory delivery of approximately 45%. Magnetic guidance using a dual-magnet configuration (anterior and superior placement) achieved 45–50% efficiency. Critically, the combined approach demonstrated synergistic effects, attaining olfactory delivery efficiencies of 60–65%—representing a 30–44% relative improvement over either method alone. The optimal particle size was 1–2 μm, with the product of magnetic field gradient and acoustic pressure gradient showing the strongest correlation with delivery efficiency (Pearson's r = 0.87). Parametric analysis revealed that random particle distribution at the inlet outperformed uniform distribution by 31%, with maximum delivery of 64 particles per 10,000 reaching the olfactory region under optimal conditions (2 μm particles, high magnetic gradient).

Conclusions: The combined acoustic-magnetic approach shows computational promise for enhancing N2B drug delivery, with synergy arising from acoustic forces suspending particles while magnetic forces provide directional targeting. These simulation-based findings offer preliminary quantitative guidelines for next-generation intranasal device design; experimental in vitro and in vivo validation remains necessary before clinical translation.

Keywords: Nose-to-brain Delivery, Olfactory Deposition, Acoustic Radiation Force, Magnetic Guidance, Magnetophoresis; Computational Fluid Dynamics, Targeted Drug Delivery, Neurological Disorders

ABBREVIATIONS

BBB: Blood–Brain Barrier

BCSFB: Blood–Cerebrospinal Fluid Barrier

CFD: Computational Fluid Dynamics

CNS: Central Nervous System

CT: Computed Tomography

MRI: Magnetic Resonance Imaging

N2B: Nose-to-Brain

ND: Neurological Disorders

POD: Pressurized Olfactory Delivery

SPL: Sound Pressure Level