title: Why inhaling salt water changes what we exhale.
abstract: We find that inhaling salt water diminishes subsequently exhaled biomaterial in man and animals due to reversible stabilization of the airway lining fluid (ALF)/air interface as a novel potential means for control of the spread of airborne infectious disease. The mechanism of this phenomenon relates to charge shielding of mucin or mucin-like macromolecules that consequently undergo gelation; this gelation alters the physical properties of the ALF surface and reduces its breakup. Cations in the nebulized solution and apparent surface viscoelasticity of the ALF (more than any other ALF intrinsic physical property) appear to be responsible for the reduced tendency of the ALF to disintegrate into very small droplets. We confirm these effects in vivo and show their reversibility through nebulization of saline solutions to anesthetized bull calves.
authors.affiliation: Pulmatrix Inc., 12 Emily Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
authors.forename: Wiwik
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.forename: Alexander M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Klibanov
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Langer
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Katstra
authors.forename: Gerald G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Fuller
authors.forename: Lester C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Griel
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fiegel
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Edwards
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000336:Aerosols; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D045853:Exhalation; D006801:Humans; D001239:Inhalation; D008168:Lung / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D012492:Salts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis*; D012996:Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D014867:Water / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D012492:Salts; D012996:Solutions; D014867:Water