Future directions in aerosol therapy.
An unprecedented growth in new technology and clinical applications of aerosol therapy is forecast for the new millennium. The most promising areas of investigation in the aerosol field relate to improvements in the pulmonary deposition of aerosol, improved synchronization between the patient's breathing and aerosol generation, targeting of aerosol to specific sites in the lung, improvements in the formulations of inhaled drugs, modulated release of inhaled drugs, and use of inhaled drugs for systemic therapy. Moreover, gene therapy by the inhaled route offers the prospects of a cure for a variety of pulmonary disorders. Future developments in the aerosol field are expected to radically change the management of patients across several medical specialties.
Dhand
R
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Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Edward Hines Jr Veterans Affairs Hospital, Hines, Illinois, USA. dhand@research.hines.med.va.gov
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000336:Aerosols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends*; D009656:North America
D000336:Aerosols