Computational modeling of fiber transport in human respiratory airways—A review

Investigations on the respiratory transport and deposition of airborne asbestos, man-made vitreous fibers (MMVFs), and carbon nanofiber/carbon nanotubes have been actively conducted in the past few decades. The elongated particles’ distinctive needle-like geometry has been identified as the main cause of extreme carcinogenicity when compared to inhaled spherical particles. Consequently, uncovering the intrinsic relationship between the particle’s unique elongated shape and its transport characteristics in human respiratory systems is crucial for understanding fiber inhalation toxicity. Currently, such information can only be provided by computational modeling. This review summarized the current state of the art of computational modeling of fiber transport in the human respiratory tract. The needed future researches were also discussed.