Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 9, 2025

Studying Surfactant Effects on Hydrate Crystallization at Oil-Water Interfaces Using a Low-Cost Integrated Modular Peltier Device
Published on: March 18, 2020
Surfactant as a drug carrier
Arun Sett1, Charles C Roehr2, Brett J Manley3
1Newborn Research, The Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia; Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Newborn Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia; Neonatal Research, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia; Newborn Services, Joan Kirner Women's and Children's, Sunshine Hospital, Victoria, Australia.
Surfactant vehicles offer targeted respiratory drug delivery, minimizing systemic side effects. Further research is needed to ensure therapeutic agents enhance, not hinder, surfactant function for clinical use.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonary drug delivery
- Surfactant science
- Respiratory medicine
Background:
- Systemic side effects are a major challenge in respiratory drug delivery.
- Surfactants possess unique properties for effective distribution within the respiratory system.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the potential of surfactant vehicles for targeted respiratory drug delivery.
- To investigate the compatibility of therapeutic agents with surfactant function.
Main Methods:
- Evaluation of drug delivery systems utilizing surfactant vehicles.
- Assessment of therapeutic agent interaction with surfactant's surface tension lowering properties.
- Systemic evaluation including benchtop, translational, and human trials.
Main Results:
- Surfactant vehicles demonstrate potential for direct delivery to the respiratory system.
- Therapeutic agents may offer additional benefits and potentially improve surfactant function.
- Ensuring no interference with the inherent surface tension lowering capability of surfactant is crucial.
Conclusions:
- Surfactant-based drug delivery presents a promising strategy for respiratory therapeutics.
- Further comprehensive evaluation is essential for clinical translation of this approach.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Breathing
Drug Delivery: Miscellaneous Routes
Oral inhalation and nasal sprays swiftly transfer drugs across the respiratory epithelium's mucosal layer. Inhaled glucocorticoids and bronchodilators directly target lung conditions such as asthma, while fluticasone nasal spray mitigates allergic rhinitis.
Transdermal patches transport drugs...
Factors Affecting Dissolution: Particle Size and Effective Surface Area
Carrier-Mediated Transport
Active transport involves two types of membrane-spanning transporters: uptake and efflux. Uptake transporters are expressed in the small...
Upper Respiratory Drugs: Antitussives, Expectorants, and Mucolytics
Antitussives include codeine, dextromethorphan (Robitussin), and benzonatate (Tessalon). Codeine and dextromethorphan exert their effects centrally by suppressing the cough reflex center in the medulla. Benzonatate operates peripherally within the respiratory tract by...
Drug Excretion: Pulmonary and Glandular Routes
Drugs can also be excreted in breast milk, which is crucial for breastfeeding infants. The...

