Deposition of aerosols delivered by nasal route with jet and mesh nebulizers.
OBJECTIVE
To quantify the amount of aerosol deposited in different parts of the airways with a commercially available nasal sonic jet nebulizer (NJN) using a sound effect, and to compare its performance with a new nasal mesh nebulizer (NMN).


METHODS
Seven healthy non-smoking male volunteers aged 21-36 years with a mean weight of 77±10 kg were included in this single-center study. Both nebulizer systems were loaded with (99m)Tc-DTPA and scintigraphies were performed with a gamma camera. Particle size distribution of the aerosols produced by the two nebulizer systems was measured.


RESULTS
There was no statistical difference between the two nebulizers in terms of fraction of particles smaller than 5 μm (44±4% vs 45±2%) (p>0.9). Aerosol deposition in the nasal region was 73±10% (% of aerosol deposited in airways) with the NJN, and 99±3% with the NMN (p=0.01). Total nasal deposition was 9.6±1.9% of the nebulizer charge with the NJN and 28.4±8.9% with the NMN (p=0.01). 0.5±0.3% of the nebulizer charge was deposited in the maxillary sinuses with the NJN, compared to 2.2±1.6% with the NMN (p=0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Although the two nebulizers had the same particle size, NMN significantly improved aerosol deposition in nasal cavity and prevents deposition into the lungs.
DTF Aerodrug, Diffusion Technique Française, Tours, France. vecellio@med.univ-tours
Laurent
L
Vecellio
Ruth
R
De Gersem
Sandrine
S
Le Guellec
Gregory
G
Reychler
Laurent
L
Pitance
Deborah
D
Le Pennec
Patrice
P
Diot
Gilles
G
Chantrel
Pierre
P
Bonfils
François
F
Jamar
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000328:Adult; D000336:Aerosols; D015902:Gamma Cameras; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers; D010316:Particle Size; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D016284:Technetium Tc 99m Pentetate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D055815:Young Adult
D000336:Aerosols; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D016284:Technetium Tc 99m Pentetate