An optimal time control problem for the administration of \(2',3'\)- dideoxycytidine by using red blood cells as bioreactors (Q2366760)

The paper provides a mathematical analysis of the optimal dosage for the administration of ddCyd using erythrocytes as carriers and bioreactors. Section 2 states the optimal time problem and proves the existence of the optimum solution. Section 3 shows that for a set of parameter values given in the literature, the control problem admits solutions (the set of admissible solutions). In Section 4, the maximum time problem is solved by studying the properties of the function which describes the concentration of the drug in the plasma as a function of time. The optimal dosage is obtained by loading the erythrocytes at their maximum capacity, provided that the loaded volume is such that the drug concentration in the plasma never surpasses the cytotoxic threshold. This is based on the unique solution of the corresponding optimal time control problem. Section 5 discusses open questions and possible developments of the model.