Dipalmitoyl lecithin surfactant adsorption by kaolin dust in vitro

Abstract

Dipalmitoyl lecithin adsorbs from micellar dispersion in brine onto respirable sized kaolin particles. In the concentration range of 1 to 10 n M/μl and at 37°C, one gram of kaolin adsorbs about 0.18 grams of lecithin, and at 21°C the dominant characteristic time of the double exponential adsorption is 0.54 hours. When compared with values for the amount of pulmonary surfactant in man and its normal replacement rate, dust doses which might produce an in vivo deficit can be predicted. Several functions in the pulmonary surfactant system which have not been quantified would determine the duration and localization of the deficit.