Effect of humidity on the stability of lung surfactant films adsorbed at air–water interfaces

Abstract

The effect of humidity on the film stability of Bovine Lipid Extract Surfactant (BLES) is studied using the captive bubble method. It is found that adsorbed BLES films show distinctly different stability patterns at two extreme relative humidities (RHs), i.e., bubbles formed by ambient air and by air prehumidified to 100% RH at 37 °C. The differences are illustrated by the ability to maintain low surface tensions at various compression ratios, the behavior of bubble clicks, and film compressibility. These results suggest that 100% RH at 37 °C tends to destabilize the BLES films. In turn, the experimental results indicate that the rapidly adsorbed BLES film on a captive bubble presents a barrier to water transport that retards full humidification of the bubble when ambient air is used for bubble formation. These findings necessitate careful evaluation and maintenance of environmental humidity for all in vitro assessment of lung surfactants. It is also found that the stability of adsorbed bovine natural lung surfactant (NLS) films is not as sensitive as BLES films to high humidity. This may indicate a physiological function of SP-A and/or cholesterol, which are absent in BLES, in maintaining the extraordinary film stability in vivo.