title: Ultrasonic and jet aerosolization of phospholipids and the effects on surface activity.
abstract: Surface active aerosols were produced from aqueous dispersions of mixed lipids (CLL), extracted from bovine lung lavage. Particle size distributions were measured as a function of humidity for two types of aerosol generators: ultrasonic and jet. Lipid dispersions before aerosolization were prepared by sonication in an ice bath and by mechanical vortexing. Over a range of high humidity greater than 60-70%, ultrasonic nebulization gave CLL aerosols with mass median aerodynamic diameters (MMAD) of 1.4 +/- 0.1 micron, compatible with predicted alveolar deposition fractions of 0.2-0.3 according to current deposition models. For humidities of 30-95%, jet nebulization gave MMAD values of 0.4-0.5 micron, which have lower predicted alveolar deposition. The surface pressure-time (pi - t) adsorption characteristics at 35 +/- 2 degrees C of CLL dispersions prepared initially by vortexing or sonication were not significantly affected by ultrasonic nebulization over a 1-2 h time period. In addition, the dynamic surface tension lowering of both kinds of CLL dispersion was not affected by ultrasonic nebulization (minimum surface tension less than 1 dyne/cm at 37 degrees C and 100% humidity). Current interest in the treatment of the respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) with exogenous surfactant replacement has focused largely on the delivery of surfactant replacement has focused largely on h delivery of surfactants to infants by tracheal instillation at birth. However, the ability to form multi-component surfactant aerosols with appreciable alveolar deposition fractions and high surface activity may help to expand the utility of replacement therapy to patients with aerated lungs.
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D000336:Aerosols; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002627:Chemistry, Physical; D008168:Lung / Q000032:analysis; D010316:Particle Size; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000032:analysis; D011312:Pressure; D013499:Surface Properties; D013500:Surface Tension; D014465:Ultrasonics
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D010743:Phospholipids