title: New generation synthetic surfactants.
abstract: The treatment of preterm newborn rabbits with synthetic surfactants containing simple phospholipid mixtures and peptides gives similar tidal volumes to treatment with poractant alfa (Curosurf®). The addition of both surfactant protein B and C analogs to the phospholipid mixture will stabilize the alveoli, measured as lung gas volumes at end expiration, even if no positive end-expiratory pressure is applied. The effect on lung gas volumes seems to depend on the structure of the peptides as well as the phospholipid composition. It seems that synthetic surfactants containing two peptides and a more complex phospholipid composition will be able to replace natural surfactants within the near future, but more experiments need to be performed before any conclusion can be drawn about the ideal composition of this new generation of synthetic surfactants.
authors.affiliation: Section of Clinical Chemistry, Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet at Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. tore.curstedt@karolinska.se
authors.forename: Tore
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Curstedt
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Calkovska
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Johansson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D015195:Drug Design; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D037661:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011817:Rabbits; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D037661:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Proteins; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants