Recreating the Size Dependent Re‐ Absorption Function of Proximal Convoluted Tubule towards Artificial Kidney Applications‐ Structural analysis and Computational study

Human Kidneys tend to get affected adversely and fail to function more often than any other organ in the body because of diet, heredity, and lifestyle of a person. Dialysis technique presently in use for replacing the failed kidney function but it is packed with painfulness, bulkiness and is costly also. There is a growing need for development of an artificial kidney that eradicates the problems associated with dialysis. This paper proposes a structure that mimics the most important aspect of the human kidney: the size-dependent re-absorption of endothelial cells in the Proximal Convoluted Tubule (PCT). The proposed structure consists of transporting channels connecting blood tubules surrounded on both sides of a main tubule. Geometries of the channels are analyzed for optimum flow by varying angles with respect to the main tubule. The analytical formulae have been developed by considering proper boundary conditions governing the flow in the structure, which makes the model more robust, concise, and realistic as the actual PCT. The mathematical model is validated against the benchmark FEM tool COMSOL Multiphysics and the results seem to be satisfactory. This paper concludes, that slant channels possess a considerably higher average flow velocity of 5.39x10(-5) m/s ( approximately 52% re-absorption rate) than straight channels with 4.77x10(-5) m/s ( approximately 46% re-absorption rate) which is closer to the actual PCT re-absorption rate of 60%. The proposed model is first of its kind in nature among the reported works which creates and exhibits simulation environment of PCT re-absorption function supported by mathematical formulation and also can be useful to study and develop artificial kidney in near future.