Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 28, 2025

07:56
Evaluating Regional Pulmonary Deposition using Patient-Specific 3D Printed Lung Models
Published on: November 11, 2020
4.7K
Innovative preclinical models for pulmonary drug delivery research.
Stephan Ehrmann1,2,3, Otmar Schmid4,5, Chantal Darquenne6
1Médecine Intensive Réanimation, CHRU Tours, Tours, France.
Expert Opinion on Drug Delivery
|February 15, 2020
Summary
Preclinical models for pulmonary drug delivery are diverse, encompassing computational, in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo methods. No single model suffices; complementary approaches are essential for effective inhaled drug development.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonary drug delivery research integrates physics of aerosol dynamics with biological aspects of drug efficacy and toxicity.
Background:
- Pulmonary drug delivery involves complex aerosol transport and deposition, necessitating a range of preclinical evaluation methods.
- Current research employs diverse preclinical models, including in silico, in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo approaches.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and synthesize the landscape of preclinical models for pulmonary drug delivery.
- To highlight the complementary nature of various models in addressing specific research questions.
Main Methods:
- In silico modeling: Computational fluid dynamics for aerosol deposition.
- In vitro methods: Cascade impactors, advanced cell cultures, and lung-on-chip technologies.
- Ex vivo and in vivo studies: Including lung imaging and pharmacokinetic analysis.
Main Results:
- A comprehensive overview of in silico, in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo preclinical models for pulmonary drug delivery is presented.
- The review details specific techniques such as computational fluid dynamics, cascade impactors, advanced cell cultures, lung-on-chip models, and in vivo imaging.
Conclusions:
- No single preclinical model is universally optimal; a combination of complementary methods is crucial for pulmonary drug delivery research.
- The selection of preclinical models should be tailored to the specific product, device, disease, and clinical context, emphasizing the need for translational research and collaboration.

