Mechanics of Inhaled Aerosols

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The delivery of medical aerosols into the respiratory tract is an important method of treating respiratory diseases such as asthma, and is under development for many other diseases. However, at present, no method exists that allows inhaled drug to deposit in a specific, targeted region of the lungs, although previous work by us, and others, has demonstrated targeting of magnetic particles. Unfortunately, few drugs are magnetic. Instead, in the present application, we propose to use ultrasound to control the motion of inhaled aerosol particles. If successful, this radical approach would allow noninvasive targeting of nonmagnetic drugs in the lungs, something that has never been achieved previously. In addition, the development of new or improved inhalation aerosol drugs would be greatly aided if the amount of drug delivered past the mouth-throat into the lungs could be easily tested on the laboratory benchtop. While the major worldwide supplier of inhaler testing equipment now sells a device developed by us for this purpose in adults, no such tool has ever been rigorously developed for delivery of aerosol drugs in children or infants. In the present application, we propose to create idealized pediatric replicas of the oral and nasal airways. This will allow the future development and optimization of medical aerosols for use in children. Because respiratory disorders in children are also thought to cause changes in craniofacial structure, we intend to characterize aerosol deposition in replicas of pediatric subjects with craniofacial abnormalities brought on by respiratory disorders in order to determine its effect on drug delivery to the lungs in such patients. This will be important in determining whether different idealized child geometries need to be developed for these patient populations. Finally, mathematical models for use in optimizing inhaled aerosol therapy using alternative gases (helium-oxygen) will also be developed for improving aerosol delivery to patients with severe respiratory distress. The research proposed in the present application addresses groundbreaking aspects in the mechanics of inhalation aerosols and will allow improved future development of therapeutic aerosol drug delivery.