Effect of meconium on the surface properties of perflubron.
OBJECTIVE
Meconium passage with pulmonary aspiration in utero is associated with surfactant inactivation and is a major cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Ventilation with low surface tension perfluorocarbon in animal models of meconium aspiration has been shown to improve both oxygenation and lung compliance. Exogenously administered surfactant is inactivated by meconium. We wished to determine whether meconium would alter the surface properties of perfluorooctyl bromide (perflubron).


METHODS
Biophysical analysis using novel methods.


METHODS
University research laboratory.


METHODS
Healthy newborns.


METHODS
First pass meconium was obtained from healthy newborns.


RESULTS
We evaluated the surface-active properties of perflubron after exposure to meconium-saline dilutions using the de Noüy ring distraction technique to measure interfacial tension and the sessile contact angle of meconium-saline suspensions. Both were assessed in the absence and presence of perflubron. Meconium-saline suspensions inhibited surfactant activity. In contrast, the surface properties of perflubron were unaffected by the presence of meconium-saline suspensions.


CONCLUSIONS
These data are consistent with reported observations of increased lung compliance in perfluorocarbon-treated animals with meconium aspiration. In addition to these clinical implications, the novel interfacial tension technique described here could prove useful for assessing the interfacial properties of other poorly miscible biological fluids.
Department of Pediatrics, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
Mamta
M
Fuloria
Ying
Y
Wu
Mary L
ML
Brandt
Bruce K
BK
Rubin
D001688:Biological Products / Q000737:chemistry; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D006842:Hydrocarbons, Brominated; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008470:Meconium / Q000737:chemistry*; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants / Q000737:chemistry*; D013500:Surface Tension
D001688:Biological Products; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D006842:Hydrocarbons, Brominated; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants; C003072:perflubron; C072197:beractant