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Qiu Y, Lu C, Bao F, Hu G. Design of a multilayer lung chip with multigenerational alveolar ducts to investigate the inhaled particle deposition. LAB ON A CHIP 2023; 23:4302-4312. [PMID: 37691540 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc00253e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
We present the development and application of a multilayer microfluidic lung chip designed to accurately replicate the human respiratory bronchi, providing an innovative platform for controlled particle deposition in the lung. By employing a quantitative control method of fluid velocity through the deformation of an elastic PDMS membrane, this platform mimics the passive breathing process in humans and allows for precise simulation of the respiration cycle. We utilized time-lapse photography of fluorescent particles in a water/glycerol solution to qualitatively observe fluid morphology in the channel, while a chip-aerosol exposure device combined with microscopy imaging was employed to visualise aerosol deposition. Both experimental and numerical simulation results showed that particle concentration decreased towards the distal generations of the lung, and that changes in breathing pattern significantly affected particle deposition trends. Furthermore, we found that increasing the residence time of particles in the channel facilitated deeper particle deposition, achievable by adjusting parameters such as breath-hold time, exhalation time, respiration cycle length, and tidal volume. The proposed microfluidic lung chip device has significant potential for future research in respiratory health and inhaled drug delivery, providing an efficient, cost-effective, and ethical alternative to traditional in vivo studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Qiu
- Department of Engineering Mechanics, State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China.
| | - Chao Lu
- College of Metrology and Measurement Engineering, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou 310018, China
| | - Fubing Bao
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Flow Measurement Technology, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou 310018, China
| | - Guoqing Hu
- Department of Engineering Mechanics, State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China.
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2
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Dong J, Yang Y, Zhu Y. Recent advances in the understanding of alveolar flow. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2022; 16:021502. [PMID: 35464135 PMCID: PMC9010052 DOI: 10.1063/5.0084415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the dynamics of airflow in alveoli and its effect on the behavior of particle transport and deposition is important for understanding lung functions and the cause of many lung diseases. The studies on these areas have drawn substantial attention over the last few decades. This Review discusses the recent progress in the investigation of behavior of airflow in alveoli. The information obtained from studies on the structure of the lung airway tree and alveolar topology is provided first. The current research progress on the modeling of alveoli is then reviewed. The alveolar cell parameters at different generation of branches, issues to model real alveolar flow, and the current numerical and experimental approaches are discussed. The findings on flow behavior, in particular, flow patterns and the mechanism of chaotic flow generation in the alveoli are reviewed next. The different flow patterns under different geometrical and flow conditions are discussed. Finally, developments on microfluidic devices such as lung-on-a-chip devices are reviewed. The issues of current devices are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Yonggang Zhu
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed:
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Sun X, Zhang X, Ren X, Sun H, Wu L, Wang C, Ye X, York P, Gao Z, Jiang H, Zhang J, Yin X. Multiscale Co-reconstruction of Lung Architectures and Inhalable Materials Spatial Distribution. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2021; 8:2003941. [PMID: 33898181 PMCID: PMC8061354 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202003941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Revised: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The effective pulmonary deposition of inhaled particulate carriers loaded with drugs is a prerequisite for therapeutic effects of drug delivery via inhalation route. Revealing the sophisticated lung scaffold and intrapulmonary distribution of particles at three-dimensional (3D), in-situ, and single-particle level remains a fundamental and critical challenge for dry powder inhalation in pre-clinical research. Here, taking advantage of the micro optical sectioning tomography system, the high-precision cross-scale visualization of entire lung anatomy is obtained. Then, co-localized lung-wide datasets of both cyto-architectures and fluorescent particles are collected at full scale with the resolution down to individual particles. The precise spatial distribution pattern reveals the region-specific distribution and structure-associated deposition of the inhalable particles in lungs, which is undetected by previous methods. Overall, this research delivers comprehensive and high-resolution 3D detection of pulmonary drug delivery vectors and provides a novel strategy to evaluate materials distribution for drug delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xian Sun
- Center for MOST and Image Fusion AnalysisShanghai Institute of Materia MedicaChinese Academy of SciencesShanghai201210China
- Center for Drug Delivery SystemsShanghai Institute of Materia MedicaChinese Academy of SciencesShanghai201210China
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100049China
| | - Xiaochuan Zhang
- School of PharmacyEast China University of Science and TechnologyShanghai200237China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor ResearchShanghai Institute of Materia MedicaChinese Academy of SciencesShanghai201203China
| | - Xiaohong Ren
- Center for Drug Delivery SystemsShanghai Institute of Materia MedicaChinese Academy of SciencesShanghai201210China
| | - Hongyu Sun
- Center for Drug Delivery SystemsShanghai Institute of Materia MedicaChinese Academy of SciencesShanghai201210China
| | - Li Wu
- Center for Drug Delivery SystemsShanghai Institute of Materia MedicaChinese Academy of SciencesShanghai201210China
| | - Caifen Wang
- Center for Drug Delivery SystemsShanghai Institute of Materia MedicaChinese Academy of SciencesShanghai201210China
| | - Xiaohui Ye
- School of Information Science and TechnologyUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefei230027China
- Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical StudiesSchool of Life Science and TechnologyShanghaiTech UniversityShanghai200031China
| | - Peter York
- School of PharmacyUniversity of BradfordBradfordBD71DPUK
| | - Zhaobing Gao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor ResearchShanghai Institute of Materia MedicaChinese Academy of SciencesShanghai201203China
| | - Hualiang Jiang
- School of PharmacyEast China University of Science and TechnologyShanghai200237China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor ResearchShanghai Institute of Materia MedicaChinese Academy of SciencesShanghai201203China
- School of Information Science and TechnologyUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefei230027China
- Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical StudiesSchool of Life Science and TechnologyShanghaiTech UniversityShanghai200031China
| | - Jiwen Zhang
- Center for Drug Delivery SystemsShanghai Institute of Materia MedicaChinese Academy of SciencesShanghai201210China
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100049China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Quality Research and Evaluation of Pharmaceutical ExcipientsNational Institutes for Food and Drug ControlBeijing100050China
| | - Xianzhen Yin
- Center for MOST and Image Fusion AnalysisShanghai Institute of Materia MedicaChinese Academy of SciencesShanghai201210China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor ResearchShanghai Institute of Materia MedicaChinese Academy of SciencesShanghai201203China
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Dong J, Qiu Y, Lv H, Yang Y, Zhu Y. Investigation on Microparticle Transport and Deposition Mechanics in Rhythmically Expanding Alveolar Chip. MICROMACHINES 2021; 12:mi12020184. [PMID: 33673126 PMCID: PMC7917580 DOI: 10.3390/mi12020184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The transport and deposition of micro/nanoparticles in the lungs under respiration has an important impact on human health. Here, we presented a real-scale alveolar chip with movable alveolar walls based on the microfluidics to experimentally study particle transport in human lung alveoli under rhythmical respiratory. A new method of mixing particles in aqueous solution, instead of air, was proposed for visualization of particle transport in the alveoli. Our novel design can track the particle trajectories under different force conditions for multiple periods. The method proposed in this study gives us better resolution and clearer images without losing any details when mapping the particle velocities. More detailed particle trajectories under multiple forces with different directions in an alveolus are presented. The effects of flow patterns, drag force, gravity and gravity directions are evaluated. By tracing the particle trajectories in the alveoli, we find that the drag force contributes to the reversible motion of particles. However, compared to drag force, the gravity is the decisive factor for particle deposition in the alveoli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Dong
- School of Science, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China; (J.D.); (Y.Q.); (H.L.)
| | - Yan Qiu
- School of Science, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China; (J.D.); (Y.Q.); (H.L.)
| | - Huimin Lv
- School of Science, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China; (J.D.); (Y.Q.); (H.L.)
| | - Yue Yang
- School of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Correspondence: (Y.Y.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Yonggang Zhu
- School of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Correspondence: (Y.Y.); (Y.Z.)
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Liu H, Liu Y, Shang Y, Liu H. Toxicant Deposition and Transport in Alveolus: A Classical Density Functional Prediction. Chem Res Toxicol 2018; 31:1398-1404. [PMID: 30479130 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.8b00272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The deposition and transport of toxicants on pulmonary surfactant are important processes in human health and medical care. We have introduced classical density functional theory (CDFT) to provide insight into this process. Nine typical toxicants in PM2.5 were considered, and their free energy and structural information have been examined. The free energy profile indicates that PbO, As2O3, and CdO are the three toxicants most easily deposited in the pulmonary alveolus, which is consistent with survey data. CuO appears to be the easiest toxicant to transport through the surfactant. Structural analysis indicates that the toxicants tend to pass through the surfactant with rotation. The configuration of the pulmonary surfactant was examined by extending our previous work to polymer systems, and it appears that both the configurational entropy and the direct interaction between the surfactant and the toxicant dominate the configuration of the pulmonary surfactant.
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Henry FS, Haber S, Haberthür D, Filipovic N, Milasinovic D, Schittny JC, Tsuda A. The simultaneous role of an alveolus as flow mixer and flow feeder for the deposition of inhaled submicron particles. J Biomech Eng 2014; 134:121001. [PMID: 23363203 DOI: 10.1115/1.4007949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
In an effort to understand the fate of inhaled submicron particles in the small sacs, or alveoli, comprising the gas-exchange region of the lung, we calculated the flow in three-dimensional (3D) rhythmically expanding models of alveolated ducts. Since convection toward the alveolar walls is a precursor to particle deposition, it was the goal of this paper to investigate the streamline maps' dependence upon alveoli location along the acinar tree. On the alveolar midplane, the recirculating flow pattern exhibited closed streamlines with a stagnation saddle point. Off the midplane we found no closed streamlines but nested, funnel-like, spiral, structures (reminiscent of Russian nesting dolls) that were directed towards the expanding walls in inspiration, and away from the contracting walls in expiration. These nested, funnel-like, structures were surrounded by air that flowed into the cavity from the central channel over inspiration and flowed from the cavity to the central channel over expiration. We also found that fluid particle tracks exhibited similar nested funnel-like spiral structures. We conclude that these unique alveolar flow structures may be of importance in enhancing deposition. In addition, due to inertia, the nested, funnel-like, structures change shape and position slightly during a breathing cycle, resulting in flow mixing. Also, each inspiration feeds a fresh supply of particle-laden air from the central channel to the region surrounding the mixing region. Thus, this combination of flow mixer and flow feeder makes each individual alveolus an effective mixing unit, which is likely to play an important role in determining the overall efficiency of convective mixing in the acinus.
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Affiliation(s)
- F S Henry
- Molecular and Integrative Physiological Sciences, Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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Kumar H, Vasilescu DM, Yin Y, Hoffman EA, Tawhai MH, Lin CL. Multiscale imaging and registration-driven model for pulmonary acinar mechanics in the mouse. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2013; 114:971-8. [PMID: 23412896 DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.01136.2012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
A registration-based multiscale method to obtain a deforming geometric model of mouse acinus is presented. An intact mouse lung was fixed by means of vascular perfusion at a hydrostatic inflation pressure of 20 cmH(2)O. Microcomputed tomography (μCT) scans were obtained at multiple resolutions. Substructural morphometric analysis of a complete acinus was performed by computing a surface-to-volume (S/V) ratio directly from the 3D reconstruction of the acinar geometry. A geometric similarity is observed to exist in the acinus where S/V is approximately preserved anywhere in the model. Using multiscale registration, the shape of the acinus at an elevated inflation pressure of 25 cmH(2)O is estimated. Changes in the alveolar geometry suggest that the deformation within the acinus is not isotropic. In particular, the expansion of the acinus (from 20 to 25 cmH(2)O) is accompanied by an increase in both surface area and volume in such a way that the S/V ratio is not significantly altered. The developed method forms a useful tool in registration-driven fluid and solid mechanics studies as displacement of the alveolar wall becomes available in a discrete sense.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haribalan Kumar
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242-1527, USA
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Chhabra S, Prasad AK. Flow and Particle Dispersion in Lung Acini: Effect of Geometric and Dynamic Parameters During Synchronous Ventilation. JOURNAL OF FLUIDS ENGINEERING 2011; 133:071001. [PMID: 32327863 PMCID: PMC7164511 DOI: 10.1115/1.4004362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2011] [Revised: 06/02/2011] [Accepted: 06/03/2011] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The human lung comprises about 300 million alveoli which are located on bronchioles between the 17th to 24th generations of the acinar tree, with a progressively higher population density in the deeper branches (lower acini). The alveolar size and aspect ratio change with generation number. Due to successive bifurcation, the flow velocity magnitude also decreases as the bronchiole diameter decreases from the upper to lower acini. As a result, fluid dynamic parameters such as Reynolds (Re) and Womersley (α) numbers progressively decrease with increasing generation number. In order to characterize alveolar flow patterns and inhaled particle transport during synchronous ventilation, we have conducted measurements for a range of dimensionless parameters physiologically relevant to the upper acini. Acinar airflow patterns were measured using a simplified in vitro alveolar model consisting of a single transparent elastic truncated sphere (representing the alveolus) mounted over a circular hole on the side of a rigid circular tube (representing the bronchiole). The model alveolus was capable of expanding and contracting in-phase with the oscillatory flow through the bronchiole thereby simulating synchronous ventilation. Realistic breathing conditions were achieved by exercising the model over a range of progressively varying geometric and dynamic parameters to simulate the environment within several generations of the acinar tree. Particle image velocimetry was used to measure the resulting flow patterns. Next, we used the measured flow fields to calculate particle trajectories to obtain particle transport and deposition statistics for massless and finite-size particles under the influence of flow advection and gravity. Our study shows that the geometric parameters (β and ΔV/V) primarily affect the velocity magnitudes, whereas the dynamic parameters (Re and α) distort the flow symmetry while also altering the velocity magnitudes. Consequently, the dynamic parameters have a greater influence on the particle trajectories and deposition statistics compared to the geometric parameters. The results from this study can benefit pulmonary research into the risk assessment of toxicological inhaled aerosols, and the pharmaceutical industry by providing better insight into the flow patterns and particle transport of inhalable therapeutics in the acini.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sudhaker Chhabra
- Biomechanics and Movement Science, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716
| | - Ajay K Prasad
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716 e-mail:
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Ma B, Darquenne C. Aerosol deposition characteristics in distal acinar airways under cyclic breathing conditions. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2011; 110:1271-82. [PMID: 21330617 DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00735.2010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the major mechanisms of aerosol deposition in the lung are known, detailed quantitative data in anatomically realistic models are still lacking, especially in the acinar airways. In this study, an algorithm was developed to build multigenerational three-dimensional models of alveolated airways with arbitrary bifurcation angles and spherical alveolar shape. Using computational fluid dynamics, the deposition of 1- and 3-μm aerosol particles was predicted in models of human alveolar sac and terminal acinar bifurcation under rhythmic wall motion for two breathing conditions (functional residual capacity = 3 liter, tidal volume = 0.5 and 0.9 liter, breathing period = 4 s). Particles entering the model during one inspiration period were tracked for multiple breathing cycles until all particles deposited or escaped from the model. Flow recirculation inside alveoli occurred only during transition between inspiration and expiration and accounted for no more than 1% of the whole cycle. Weak flow irreversibility and convective transport were observed in both models. The average deposition efficiency was similar for both breathing conditions and for both models. Under normal gravity, total deposition was ~33 and 75%, of which ~67 and 96% occurred during the first cycle, for 1- and 3-μm particles, respectively. Under zero gravity, total deposition was ~2-5% for both particle sizes. These results support previous findings that gravitational sedimentation is the dominant deposition mechanism for micrometer-sized aerosols in acinar airways. The results also showed that moving walls and multiple breathing cycles are needed for accurate estimation of aerosol deposition in acinar airways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baoshun Ma
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0931, USA
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