Effect of surfactant concentration, compression ratio and compression rate on the surface activity and dynamic properties of a lung surfactant

Exposure to Aldehyde Cherry e-Liquid Flavoring and Its Vaping Byproduct Disrupt Pulmonary Surfactant Biophysical Function

Over the past decade, there has been a significant rise in the use of vaping devices, particularly among adolescents, raising concerns for effects on respiratory health. Pressingly, many recent vaping-related lung injuries are unexplained by current knowledge, and the overall implications of vaping for respiratory health are poorly understood. This study investigates the effect of hydrophobic vaping liquid chemicals on the pulmonary surfactant biophysical function. We focus on the commonly used flavoring benzaldehyde and its vaping byproduct, benzaldehyde propylene glycol acetal. The study involves rigorous testing of the surfactant biophysical function in Langmuir trough and constrained sessile drop surfactometer experiments with both protein-free synthetic surfactant and hydrophobic protein-containing clinical surfactant models. The study reveals that exposure to these vaping chemicals significantly interferes with the synthetic and clinical surfactant biophysical function. Further atomistic simulations reveal preferential interactions with SP-B and SP-C surfactant proteins. Additionally, data show surfactant lipid-vaping chemical interactions and suggest significant transfer of vaping chemicals to the experimental subphase, indicating a toxicological mechanism for the alveolar epithelium. Our study, therefore, reveals novel mechanisms for the inhalational toxicity of vaping. This highlights the need to reassess the safety of vaping liquids for respiratory health, particularly the use of aldehyde chemicals as vaping flavorings.

Structural changes in layers of lipid mixtures at low surface tensions

Layers of pulmonary lipids on an aqueous substrate at non-equilibrium conditions can decrease the surface tension of water to quite low values. This is connected with different relaxation processes occurring at the interface and the associated changes in the surface layer structure. Results of measurements by the combination of methods like surface rheology, ellipsometry, Brewster angle microscopy, and IRRAS for spread layers of lipid mixtures open a possibility to specify the dynamics of structural changes at conditions close to the physiological state. At sufficiently low surface tension values (below 5 mN/m) significant changes in the ellipsometric signal were observed for pure DPPC layers, which can be related to a transition from 2D to 3D structures caused by the layer folding. The addition of other lipids can accelerate the relaxation processes connected with squeezing-out of molecules or multilayer stacks formation hampering thereby a decrease of surface tension down to low values corresponding to the folding of the monolayer.

A Three-Dimensional Model of Human Lung Airway Tree to Study Therapeutics Delivery in the Lungs

Surfactant instillation into the lungs is used to treat several respiratory disorders such as neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS). The success of the treatments significantly depends on the uniformity of distribution of the instilled surfactant in airways. This is challenging to directly evaluate due to the inaccessibility of lung airways and great difficulty with imaging them. To tackle this problem, we developed a 3D physical model of human lung airway tree. Using a defined set of principles, we first generated computational models of eight generations of neonates' tracheobronchial tree comprising the conducting zone airways. Similar to native lungs, these models contained continuously-branching airways that rotated in the 3D space and reduced in size with increase in the generation number. Then, we used additive manufacturing to generate physical airway tree models that precisely replicated the computational designs. We demonstrated the utility of the physical models to study surfactant delivery in the lungs and showed the effect of orientation of the airway tree in the gravitational field on the distribution of instilled surfactant between the left and right lungs and within each lung. Our 3D lung airway tree model offers a novel tool for quantitative studies of therapeutics delivery.

Surfactant-induced Marangoni transport of lipids and therapeutics within the lung

Understanding the fundamentals of surface transport on thin viscous films has important application in pulmonary drug delivery. The human lung contains a large-area interface between its complex fluid lining and inhaled air. Marangoni flows driven by surface tension gradients along this interface would promote enhanced distribution of inhaled therapeutics by carrying them from where they are deposited in the upper airways, along the fluid interface to deeper regions of the lung. Motivated by the potential to improve therapies for acute and chronic lung diseases, we review recent progress in modeling and experimental studies of Marangoni transport induced by the deposition of surfactant-containing microliter drops and liquid aerosols (picoliter drops) onto a fluid interface. The roles of key system variables are identified, including surfactant solubility, drop miscibility with the subphase, and the thickness, composition and surface properties of the subphase liquid. Of particular interest is the unanticipated but crucial role of aerosol processing to achieve Marangoni transport via phospholipid vesicle dispersions, which are likely candidates for a biocompatible delivery system. Progress in this field has the potential to not only improve outcomes in patients with chronic and acute lung diseases, but also to further our understanding of surface transport in complex systems.

Accuracy of Axisymmetric Drop Shape Analysis in Determining Surface and Interfacial Tensions

Axisymmetric drop shape analysis (ADSA) has been used in a broad range of applications for determining surface tensions of air-liquid surfaces and interfacial tensions of liquid-liquid interfaces. However, it is well-known that the accuracy of ADSA deteriorates upon the reduction of drop volume. Here, we systematically compared different criteria and parameters in evaluating the accuracy of ADSA upon reducing drop volume. By scrutinizing the dependence of ADSA accuracy on various parameters, including the capillary constant (c), the Bond number (Bo), the Worthington number (Wo), and the shape parameter (P_s), we concluded that the classical Bond number failed to predict the accuracy of drop shape analysis at very small drop volumes. Thus, we proposed a replacement of the classical Bond number, called the Neumann number Ne ≡ (ΔρgR₀H)/γ. The design rationale of this new dimensionless number lies in the use of the geometric mean of the radius of curvature at the drop apex (R₀) and the drop height (H) as the new characteristic length (L) to represent the drop size, that is, L = (R₀H)^1/2. It is found that the Neumann number is capable of evaluating the accuracy of ADSA. Moreover, we have demonstrated the usefulness of the local Neumann number, Ne_z ≡ (ΔρgR₀/γ)z, in evaluating the contribution of the local drop profile to the accuracy of ADSA.

Axisymmetric Drop Shape Analysis (ADSA): An Outline

Drop shape techniques for the measurement of interfacial tension are powerful, versatile and flexible. The shape of the drop/bubble depends on the balance between surface tension and external forces, e.g. gravity. This balance is reflected mathematically in the Laplace equation of capillarity. Axisymmetric Drop Shape Analysis (ADSA) is a commonly used drop shape technique. A streamlined version of the development of ADSA over the past several decades is presented to illustrate its validity and range of utility. Several configurations of interest will be considered and presented systematically. Shape and surface tension will be linked to a shape parameter based on proper concepts of differential geometry. The resulting shape parameter will be shown to allow determination of the range of applicability of such a drop shape method.

Enabling Marangoni flow at air-liquid interfaces through deposition of aerosolized lipid dispersions

It has long been known that deposited drops of surfactant solution induce Marangoni flows at air-liquid interfaces. These surfactant drops create a surface tension gradient, which causes an outward flow at the fluid interface. We show that aqueous phospholipid dispersions may be used for this same purpose. In aqueous dispersions, phospholipids aggregate into vesicles that are not surface-active; therefore, drops of these dispersions do not initiate Marangoni flow. However, aerosolization of these dispersions disrupts the vesicles, allowing access to the surface-active monomers within. These lipid monomers do have the ability to induce Marangoni flow. We hypothesize that monomers released from broken vesicles adsorb on the surfaces of individual aerosol droplets and then create localized surface tension reduction upon droplet deposition. Deposition of lipid monomers via aerosolization produces surface tensions as low as 1mN/m on water. In addition, aerosolized lipid deposition also drives Marangoni flow on entangled polymer solution subphases with low initial surface tensions (∼34mN/m). The fact that aerosolization of phospholipids naturally found within pulmonary surfactant can drive Marangoni flows on low surface tension liquids suggests that aerosolized lipids may be used to promote uniform pulmonary drug delivery without the need for exogenous spreading agents.

Laplacian drop shapes and effect of random perturbations on accuracy of surface tension measurement for different drop constellations

Theoretical drop shapes are calculated for three drop constellations: pendant drops, constrained sessile drops, and unconstrained sessile drops. Based on total Gaussian curvature, shape parameter and critical shape parameter are discussed as a function of different drop sizes and surface tensions. The shape parameter is linked to physical parameters for every drop constellation. The as yet unavailable detailed dimensional analysis for the unconstrained sessile drop is presented. Results show that the unconstrained sessile drop shape depends on a dimensionless volume term and the contact angle. Random perturbations are introduced and the accuracy of surface tension measurement is assessed for precise and perturbed profiles of the three drop constellations. It is concluded that pendant drops are the best method for accurate surface tension measurement, followed by constrained sessile drops. The unconstrained sessile drops come last because they tend to be more spherical at low and moderate contact angles. Of course, unconstrained sessile drops are the only option if contact angles are to be measured.

Composition, structure and mechanical properties define performance of pulmonary surfactant membranes and films

The respiratory surface in the mammalian lung is stabilized by pulmonary surfactant, a membrane-based system composed of multiple lipids and specific proteins, the primary function of which is to minimize the surface tension at the alveolar air-liquid interface, optimizing the mechanics of breathing and avoiding alveolar collapse, especially at the end of expiration. The goal of the present review is to summarize current knowledge regarding the structure, lipid-protein interactions and mechanical features of surfactant membranes and films and how these properties correlate with surfactant biological function inside the lungs. Surfactant mechanical properties can be severely compromised by different agents, which lead to surfactant inhibition and ultimately contributes to the development of pulmonary disorders and pathologies in newborns, children and adults. A detailed comprehension of the unique mechanical and rheological properties of surfactant layers is crucial for the diagnostics and treatment of lung diseases, either by analyzing the contribution of surfactant impairment to the pathophysiology or by improving the formulations in surfactant replacement therapies. Finally, a short review is also included on the most relevant experimental techniques currently employed to evaluate lung surfactant mechanics, rheology, and inhibition and reactivation processes.

Long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency as a cause of pulmonary surfactant dysfunction

Long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (LCAD) is a mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation enzyme whose expression in humans is low or absent in organs known to utilize fatty acids for energy such as heart, muscle, and liver. This study demonstrates localization of LCAD to human alveolar type II pneumocytes, which synthesize and secrete pulmonary surfactant. The physiological role of LCAD and the fatty acid oxidation pathway in lung was subsequently studied using LCAD knock-out mice. Lung fatty acid oxidation was reduced in LCAD(-/-) mice. LCAD(-/-) mice demonstrated reduced pulmonary compliance, but histological examination of lung tissue revealed no obvious signs of inflammation or pathology. The changes in lung mechanics were found to be due to pulmonary surfactant dysfunction. Large aggregate surfactant isolated from LCAD(-/-) mouse lavage fluid had significantly reduced phospholipid content as well as alterations in the acyl chain composition of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylglycerol. LCAD(-/-) surfactant demonstrated functional abnormalities when subjected to dynamic compression-expansion cycling on a constrained drop surfactometer. Serum albumin, which has been shown to degrade and inactivate pulmonary surfactant, was significantly increased in LCAD(-/-) lavage fluid, suggesting increased epithelial permeability. Finally, we identified two cases of sudden unexplained infant death where no lung LCAD antigen was detectable. Both infants were homozygous for an amino acid changing polymorphism (K333Q). These findings for the first time identify the fatty acid oxidation pathway and LCAD in particular as factors contributing to the pathophysiology of pulmonary disease.

Total Gaussian curvature, drop shapes and the range of applicability of drop shape techniques

Drop shape techniques are used extensively for surface tension measurement. It is well-documented that, as the drop/bubble shape becomes close to spherical, the performance of all drop shape techniques deteriorates. There have been efforts quantifying the range of applicability of drop techniques by studying the deviation of Laplacian drops from the spherical shape. A shape parameter was introduced in the literature and was modified several times to accommodate different drop constellations. However, new problems arise every time a new configuration is considered. Therefore, there is a need for a universal shape parameter applicable to pendant drops, sessile drops, liquid bridges as well as captive bubbles. In this work, the use of the total Gaussian curvature in a unified approach for the shape parameter is introduced for that purpose. The total Gaussian curvature is a dimensionless quantity that is commonly used in differential geometry and surface thermodynamics, and can be easily calculated for different Laplacian drop shapes. The new definition of the shape parameter using the total Gaussian curvature is applied here to both pendant and constrained sessile drops as an illustration. The analysis showed that the new definition is superior and reflects experimental results better than previous definitions, especially at extreme values of the Bond number.