Numerical analysis of light-controlled drug delivery systems (Q6567303)

The manuscript presents a comprehensive study on the numerical analysis of nonlinear reaction-diffusion systems. The scientific problem addressed in this paper revolves around the modelling and numerical analysis of light-controlled drug delivery systems. This complex problem involves the interplay of nonlinear partial differential equations (PDEs) with mixed Dirichlet-Neumann boundary conditions, which pose significant challenges for numerical methods due to the inherent nonlinearity and the specific boundary conditions applied.\N\NThe authors employ a finite difference method (FDM) for spatial discretization and an implicit midpoint method for time integration to solve the nonlinear reaction-diffusion system. The system under consideration models the dynamics of light intensity and the concentrations of free and bound drug molecules in a controlled drug delivery context. The PDEs describing the system include terms for diffusion and reaction, with specific conditions to simulate the application and effect of light on the drug delivery process.\N\NOne of the key methodological contributions of this paper is the proof of superconvergence in space and optimal convergence in time. The authors achieve this by directly analyzing a suitable error equation, which allows them to avoid the traditional approach of combining consistency and stability to imply convergence. This direct analysis not only simplifies the theoretical framework but also elegantly establishes the nonlinear stability of the method. The convergence analysis demonstrates second-order accuracy in space in a discrete \( H^1 \)-norm and second-order accuracy in time in a discrete \( L^2 \)-norm. These results are supported by numerical experiments that validate the theoretical claims.\N\NThe main findings of the manuscript include the optimal second-order convergence in time and the superconvergence of second-order in space for the proposed numerical method. The study also highlights the nonlinear stability of the method, which is crucial for ensuring reliable and accurate simulations in practical applications. The numerical experiments provided in the paper illustrate the effectiveness of the method, confirming the theoretical convergence rates and demonstrating the practical applicability of the approach.\N\NThe significance of this research lies in its contribution to the field of numerical analysis and its application to biomedical engineering, particularly in the design and optimization of light-controlled drug delivery systems. By providing a robust and efficient numerical method, this study advances the capability to model and simulate complex biological processes, thereby facilitating the development of more effective drug delivery strategies. The findings have broader implications for the numerical treatment of nonlinear PDEs with mixed boundary conditions, offering insights that can be applied to a wide range of scientific and engineering problems.