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Lung delivery of aerosolized dextran
W H Finlay1, C F Lange, M King
1Aerosol Research Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. warren.finlay@ualberta.ca
American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
|January 5, 2000
Summary
Nebulizer performance for delivering dextran aerosols to the lungs was evaluated. Only the Pari LC STAR nebulizer effectively delivered dextran to airway mucus at concentrations linked to therapeutic efficacy.
Area of Science:
- Respiratory drug delivery
- Aerosol science
- Biomedical engineering
Background:
- Dextran is a potential therapeutic agent for lung conditions.
- Effective delivery of dextran to the airways requires optimized aerosolization and deposition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the in vitro performance of four nebulizers in delivering dextran aerosols to lung models.
- To determine optimal nebulizer settings for achieving effective airway mucosal dextran concentrations.
Main Methods:
- In vitro aerosol characterization using phase Doppler anemometry, filter collection, osmometry, and gravimetry.
- Mathematical modeling of aerosol deposition in lung models and dextran concentration in airway mucus.
- Testing of four nebulizer types with varying dextran concentrations and fill volumes.
Main Results:
- High viscosity of dextran solutions significantly impaired nebulization performance across most tested systems.
- The Pari LC STAR nebulizer demonstrated superior performance compared to other tested nebulizers.
- Achieving effective airway mucosal dextran concentrations was possible with the Pari LC STAR using a 2.5-ml fill volume and 200 mg/ml dextran concentration.
Conclusions:
- Nebulizer selection and formulation parameters are critical for effective dextran aerosol delivery to the lungs.
- The Pari LC STAR shows promise for delivering therapeutic concentrations of dextran to airway mucus.