Exploring the role of electrostatic deposition on inhaled aerosols in alveolated microchannels

Large amounts of net electrical charge are known to accumulate on inhaled aerosols during their generation using commonly-available inhalers. This effect often leads to superfluous deposition in the extra-thoracic airways at the cost of more efficient inhalation therapy. Since the electrostatic force is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between an aerosol and the airway wall, its role has long been recognized as potentially significant in the deep lungs. Yet, with the complexity of exploring such phenomenon directly at the acinar scales, in vitro experiments have been largely limited to upper airways models. Here, we devise a microfluidic alveolated airway channel coated with conductive material to quantify in vitro the significance of electrostatic effects on inhaled aerosol deposition. Specifically, our aerosol exposure assays showcase inhaled spherical particles of 0.2, 0.5, and 1.1 μm that are recognized to reach the acinar regions, whereby deposition is typically attributed to the leading roles of diffusion and sedimentation. In our experiments, electrostatic effects are observed to largely prevent aerosols from depositing inside alveolar cavities. Rather, deposition is overwhelmingly biased along the inter-alveolar septal spaces, even when aerosols are charged with only a few elementary charges. Our observations give new insight into the role of electrostatics at the acinar scales and emphasize how charged particles under 2 µm may rapidly overshadow the traditionally accepted dominance of diffusion or sedimentation when considering aerosol deposition phenomena in the deep lungs.