Role of Particle Hygroscopicity in Aerosol Therapy and Inhalation Toxicology

摘要

The extrathoracic compartment of the human respiratory tract (i.e., the naso- and oropharyngeal regions) effectively conditions inhaled air by warming and humidifying processes even in extreme ambient environments. When airborne particles are inhaled, the effectiveness of interactive particle-gas thermodynamic processes will be affected by the nature of surrounding fluid dynamics patterns. To conduct mathematical modeling of effects of hygroscopicity upon deposition, the growth characteristics of particles within defined environments must be known. Laboratory tests have been performed which yield data regarding the hygroscopic nature of some therapeutic aerosols and ambient pollutants. Here, data are related to environments within the lung for oral and nasal breathing modes. These in vitro data, which must of necessity be utilized in the restrictive formats in which they have been derived, can be associated with in vivo situations data, and incorporated hygroscopicity within the lung.