Published in

American Physiological Society, Journal of Applied Physiology, 6(91), p. 2735-2741

DOI: 10.1152/jappl.2001.91.6.2735

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Electro-hydrodynamic atomization of drug solutions for inhalation purposes

This paper was not found in any repository, but could be made available legally by the author.
This paper was not found in any repository, but could be made available legally by the author.

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Abstract

Monodisperse aerosols show therapeutic advantages, but they are difficult to generate. A new method (electrohydrodynamic atomization) is described. A high voltage is applied to a nozzle through which a solution, containing dissolved drug, is pumped. At the nozzle tip, a liquid cone is formed and a stream of monodisperse droplets is released. The droplet diameter is governed by the density, conductivity, and the flow rate of the fluid. The droplets are charged and need to be neutralized. Therefore, a corona discharge system is used. Methylparahydroxybenzoate was used as a model drug, and additional data were generated by using beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP). At a flow rate of 1 ml/h and 0.5% methylparahydroxybenzoate, 1.58-μm particles were produced with a geometric SD of 1.18. Increasing the flow rate to 3 ml/h and the concentration to 3% resulted in 4.55-μm particles with a geometric SD of 1.29. The experiments with BDP resulted in similar particle sizes. The mass of BDP was found to range between 1.42 and 6 μg/l air. Aqueous solutions cannot be sprayed by using this setup. This method can be used to deliver antiasthma drugs to patients.