Experimental Analysis of the Deposition of Aerosol Droplets in the Upper Airways of Human

Abstract

This chapter presents some examples of the application of chemical engineering approach in solving problems of drug delivery using aerosolized liquids. Both aerosol formation and the subsequent transport of micrometer-sized droplets through the upper airways of human: nose, mouth and throat, have been investigated by experiments “in vitro” on anatomical models of these parts of the respiratory system. The results allowed to identify the basic physicochemical and aerodynamic/mass transfer phenomena which are responsible for the local separation of aerosol droplets from the air stream and their deposition and displacement in the studied regions of the human body. The influence of liquid properties (e.g., the surface tension, rheological characteristics) and inhalation dynamics have been shown to be essential factors for predicting the efficiency of drug delivery using aerosols.