Scientists

Bahman Asgharian

Bahman Asgharian

Education

B.S., mechanical engineering, State University of New York at Buffalo, 1980.
M.S., mechanical engineering, State University of New York at Buffalo, 1983.
Ph.D., mechanical engineering, State University of New York at Buffalo, 1988.
Postdoctoral training, Lanza Laboratories, Institute of Environmental Medicine, New York University Medical Center, Tuxedo, 1990.

Research

My research activities include the use of fluid mechanics and aerosol science to develop particle dosimetry models in humans and animals. Several ongoing projects aim at creating mathematical deposition models of nanosized particles and fibers in anatomically-accurate lung geometries under physiologically-realistic breathing conditions. Dosimetry models allow data extrapolation from laboratory animal inhalation studies to human exposure scenarios. This information is used to evaluate risk to humans from exposure to airborne materials. Dosimetry models can also be used to target the site and predict the deposition of inhaled pharmaceutical drugs within the human respiratory tract. Dosimetry models are implemented in user-friendly, GUI-based software packages developed in Java and C++ so that they can be used by other investigators and the public.

A complementary area of research involves validation of the dosimetry models. Experiments are conducted in nasal replicas of humans and rats to measure local and overall deposition of particles. Inhalation exposures are also conducted to obtain the deposition fraction of inhaled particles in various regions of the rat respiratory tract.

Selected Publications

Ménache, M.G., Hofmann, W., Asgharian, B., and Miller, F.J. (2008). Airway Geometry Models of Children’s Lungs for use in Dosimetry Modeling Inhalation Toxicology 20:101-126.

Nazridoust, K. and Asgharian, B. (2008). Prediction of Airflow and Particle Deposition in the Human Lung Inhalation Toxicology 20:595-610.

Ginsburg, G., Asgharian, B., Kimbell, J., Ultman, J., and Jarabek, A.M. (2008). Modeling approaches for estimating the dosimetry of toxicant in children Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health 71:161-195.

Asgharian, B., and Price, O.T. (2007). Deposition of Ultrafine (nano) Particles in the Human Lung, Inhalation Toxicology 19:1045-1052.

Zhang, H., Ahmadi, G., and Asgharian, B. (2007). Transport and deposition of angular fibers in turbulent channel flows. Aerosol Sci. Technol. 41, 529-548.

Kimbell, J. S., Segal, R. A., Asgharian, B., Wong, B. A., Schroeter, J. D., Southhall, J. P., Dickens, C. J., Brace, J., and Miller, F. J. (2007). Characterization of deposition from nasal spray devices using computational fluid dynamics model of human nasal passages. J. Aerosol Med. 20, 59-74.

Asgharian, B. and Price, O. T. (2006). Airflow distribution in the human lung and its influence on particle deposition. Inhal. Toxicol. 18(10), 795-801.

Asgharian, B., Price, O. T., and Hofmann, W. (2006). Prediction of particle deposition in the human lung using realistic models of lung ventilation. J. Aerosol Sci. 37(10), 1209-1221.

Asgharian, B., Price, O. T., and Oberdörster, G. (2006). The effect of gravity on airflow distribution and particle deposition in the lung. Inhal. Toxicol. 18(7), 473-481.

Moss, O. R., James, R. A., and Asgharian, B. (2006). Influence of exhaled air on inhalation exposure delivered through a directed-flow nose-only exposure system. Inhal. Toxicol. 18,
45-51.

Schroeter, J. D., Kimbell, J. S., and Asgharian, B. (2006). Analysis of particle deposition in the turbinate and olfactory regions using a human nasal computational fluid dynamics model.
J. Aerosol Med. 19(3), 301-313.

Kelly, J. T., Asgharian, B., and Wong, B. A. (2005). Inertial particle deposition in a monkey nasal mold compared with that in human nasal replicas. Inhal. Toxicol. 17, 823-830.

Asgharian, B. (2004). A model of deposition of hygroscopic particles in the human lung. Aerosol Sci. Technol. 38, 938-947.

Kelly, J. T., Asgharian, B., Kimbell, J. S., and Wong, B. A. (2004). Particle deposition in human nasal airway replicas manufactured by different methods. Part I: inertial regime particles. Aerosol Sci. Technol. 38, 1063-1071.

Kelly, J. T., Asgharian, B., Kimbell, J. S., and Wong, B. A. (2004). Particle deposition in human nasal airway replicas manufactured by different methods. Part II: ultrafine particles. Aerosol Sci. Technol. 38, 1072-1079.

Asgharian, B., Kelly, J. T., and Tewksbury, E. W. (2003). Respiratory deposition and inhalability of monodisperse aerosols in Long-Evans rats. Toxicol. Sci. 71,104-111.

Kelly, J. T. and Asgharian, B. (2003). Nasal molds as predictors of fine and coarse particle deposition in rat nasal airways. Inhal. Toxicol. 15, 859-875.

Subramaniam, R. P., Asgharian, B., Freijer, J. I., Miller, F. J., and Anjilvel, S. (2003). Analysis of lobar differences in particle deposition in the human lung. Inhal. Toxicol. 15, 1-21.

Asgharian, B. and Cheng, Y. S. (2002). The filtration of fibrous aerosols. Aerosol Sci. Technol. 36, 10-17.

Bermudez, E., Mangum, J. B., Asgharian, B., Wong, B. A., Reverdy, E. E., Janszen, D. B., Hext, P. M., Warheit, D. B., and Everitt, J. I. (2002). Long-term clearance responses of three laboratory rodents species to subchronic inhalation of pigmentary titanium dioxide particles. Toxicol. Sci. 70, 86-97.

Hext, P. M., Warheit, D. B., Mangum, J., Asgharian, B., Wong, B., Bermudez, E., and Everitt, J. (2002). Comparison of the pulmonary responses to inhaled pigmentary and ultrafine titanium dioxide particles in the rat, mouse, and hamster. Ann. Occup. Hyg. 46 (Supplement 1), 191-196.

Hofmann, W. and Asgharian, B. (2002). Comparison of mucociliary clearance velocities in human and rat lungs for extrapolation modeling. Ann. Occup. Hyg. 46 (Supplement 1), 323-325.

Hofmann, W., Asgharian, B., and Winkler-Heil, R. (2002). Modeling intersubject variability of particle deposition in human lungs. J. Aerosol Sci. 33, 219-235.

Kelly, J. T., Tewksbury, E. W., Wong, B. A., and Asgharian, B. (2002). Nasal and lung deposition of fine and coarse particles in rats. Ann. Occup. Hyg. 46 (Supplement 1), 346-349.

Asgharian, B., Hofmann, W., and Bergmann, R. (2001). Particle deposition in a multiple-path model of the human lung. Aerosol Sci. Technol. 34, 332-339.

Asgharian, B., Hofmann, W., and Miller, F. J. (2001). Mucociliary clearance of insoluble particles from the tracheobronchial airways of the human lung. J. Aerosol Sci. 32, 817-832.

Kelly, J. T., Bobbitt, C. M., and Asgharian, B. (2001). In vivo measurement of fine and coarse aerosol deposition in the nasal airways of female Long-Evans rats. Toxicol. Sci. 64, 253-258.

Kelly, J. T., Kimbell, J. S., and Asgharian, B. (2001). Deposition of fine and coarse aerosols in a rat nasal mold. Inhal. Toxicol. 13, 577-588.

Everitt, J. I., Mangum, J. B., Bermudez, E., Wong, B. A., Asgharian, B., Reverdy, E. E., Hext, P. M., and Warheit, D. B. (2000). Comparison of selected pulmonary responses of rats, mice, and Syrian golden hamsters to inhaled pigmentary titanium dioxide. Inhal. Toxicol. 12 (Supplement 3), 275-282.

Hofmann, W., Asgharian, B., Bergmann, R., Anjilvel, S., and Miller, F. J. (2000). The effect of heterogeneity of lung structure on particle deposition in the rat lung. Toxicol. Sci. 53, 430-437.

Asgharian, B. and Godo, M. N. (1999). Size separation of spherical particles and fibers in an aerosol centrifuge. Aerosol Sci. Technol. 30, 383-400.

Asgharian, B. and Ahmadi, G. (1998). Effect of fiber geometry on deposition in small airways of the lung. Aerosol Sci. Technol. 29, 459-474.

Asgharian, B. and Anjilvel, S. (1998). A multiple-path model of fiber deposition in the rat lung. Toxicol. Sci. 44, 80-86.

Asgharian, B. and Godo, M. N. (1997). Transport and deposition of spherical particles and fibers in an improved virtual impactor. Aerosol Sci. Technol. 27, 499-506.

Asgharian, B., Zhang, L., and Fang, C. P. (1997). Theoretical calculations of the collection efficiency of spherical particles and fibers in an impactor. J. Aerosol Sci. 28, 277-287.

Zhang, L., Asgharian, B., and Anjilvel, S. (1997). Inertial deposition of particles in the human upper airway bifurcations. Aerosol Sci. Technol. 26, 97-110.

Himmelstein, M. W., Turner, M. J., Asgharian, B., and Bond, J. A. (1996). Metabolism of 1,3-butadiene inhalation pharmacokinetics and tissue dosimetry of butadiene epoxides in rats and mice. Toxicology 113:306-309.

Valentine, J. L., Lee, S. S.-T., Seaton, M. S., Asgharian, B., Farris, G., Corton, J. C., Gonzalez, F. J., and Medinsky, M. A. (1996). Reduction of benzene metabolism and toxicity in mice that lack CYP2E1 expression. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 141, 205-213.

Zhang, L., Asgharian, B., and Anjilvel, S. (1996). Inertial and interceptional deposition of fibers in a bifurcating airway. J. Aerosol Med. 9, 419-430.

Anjilvel, S. and Asgharian, B. (1995). A multiple-path model of particle deposition in the rat lung. Fundam. Appl. Toxicol. 28, 41-50.

Asgharian, B. and Anjilvel, S. (1995). Movement and deposition of fibers in an airway with steady viscous flow. Aerosol Sci. Technol. 22, 261-270.

Asgharian, B. and Anjilvel, S. (1995). The effect of fiber inertia on its orientation in a shear flow with application to lung dosimetry. Aerosol Sci. Technol. 23, 282-290.