Pulmonary surfactant: phase behavior and function
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Updated: Sep 30, 2026

Microtensiometer for Confocal Microscopy Visualization of Dynamic Interfaces
Published on: September 9, 2022
Barbora Piknova1, Vincent Schram, Stephen B Hall
1Molecular Medicine, Mail Code NRC-3, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland 97201-3098, USA. piknovab@ohsu.edu
Abstract:
Pulmonary surfactant functions by first flowing rapidly into the alveolar air/water interface, but then resisting collapse from the surface when the adsorbed interfacial film is compressed during exhalation. Widely accepted models emphasize the importance of phase behavior in both processes. Recent studies show, however, that fluidity is a relatively minor determinant of adsorption and that solid films, which resist collapse, can form by kinetic processes unrelated to equilibrium phase behavior.
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