9810098 Simon The objective of this research is to extend porohyperelastic transport swelling (PHETS) field theories developed by the investigators for the coupled structural and transport properties of large arteries. New finite element models based on the extended theories will be implemented and used to analyze the results of experiments on the transport of charged and neutral species in excised rabbit carotid arteries under various loading conditions. With PHETS material parameters for nonlinear anisotropic tissue elasticity, permeability, diffusivity, mechano-chemical coupling, and convection thus identified from the analysis of the experimental studies, the new models will be able to predict the results of in-vivo conditions that can not readily be performed experimentally and to characterize the action of intravascular local drug delivery systems. Experimental studies in de-endothelialized rabbit carotid arteries will examine the transport of fluorescence-labeled charged and neutral species under pressure loading alone as well as combined pressure and flow conditions. ***
