In-vitro study of the interaction between chitosan and a bovine lung surfactant.

摘要

Exogenous lung surfactants are used to treat respiratory distress syndrome, and can be deactivated by serum. This study investigated the interaction between chitosan and an inhibited bovine lung extract surfactant (BLES).;It was observed that while an initial addition of chitosan to dilute BLES was effective, an excess dosage is undesirable. Furthermore, this transition from "optimum" to "excess" chitosan-to-BLES ratios in formulations corresponded to the de-flocculation of surfactant aggregates. These observations and zeta potential measurement results suggest that chitosan, by binding to the anionic phospholipids in BLES, can change the elasticity and stability of the surface films and reduce serum-caused inhibition. These findings highlight the importance of electrostatic interactions in cationic polymer - lung surfactant systems.;Dynamic surface tension measurements of surfactant formulations were conducted by Constrained Sessile Drop (CSD) device combined with Axisymmetric Drop Shape Analysis (ADSA). Zeta potential measurements and optical micrographs of surfactant aggregates were also employed.