Abstract
This in vitro study evaluates the performance of a disposable vibrating-mesh nebulizer when used for 28 days. A lung model was used to simulate the breathing pattern of an adult with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The vibrating-mesh nebulizer was used for three treatments/day over 28 days without cleaning after each test. Results showed that the inhaled drug dose was similar during four weeks of use (p = 0.157), with 16.73 ± 4.46% at baseline and 15.29 ± 2.45%, 16.21 ± 2.21%, 17.56 ± 1.98%, and 17.13 ± 1.81%, after the first, second, third, and fourth weeks, respectively. The particle size distribution, residual drug volume, and nebulization time remained similar across four weeks of use (p = 0.110, p = 0.763, and p = 0.573, respectively). Mesh was inspected using optical microscopy and showed that approximately 50% of mesh pores were obscured after 84 runs, and light penetration through the aperture plate was significantly reduced after the 21st use (p < 0.001) with no correlation to nebulizer performance. We conclude that the vibrating-mesh nebulizer delivered doses of salbutamol solution effectively over four weeks without cleaning after each use even though the patency and clarity of the aperture plate were reduced by the first week of use.
Highlights
The administration of aerosolized drugs using a vibrating-mesh nebulizer has gained popularity because of its high delivery efficiency, low residual dose, and lack of requirement for external gas power [1,2]
Beck-Broichsitter et al, evaluated vibrating-mesh nebulizer performance using solutions of different viscosities and reported that particle size measured in volume median diameter decreased as the solution viscosity and nebulizer output rate increased [12]
Ghazanfari et al, compared the performance of vibrating-mesh nebulizer using solutions of different viscosities and surface tensions and showed that low viscosity and reduced surface tension shortened nebulization time and increased the output rate [13]. Their results showed no association between fluid properties and nebulizer output, while the aerosol particle size increased as viscosity decreased
Summary
The administration of aerosolized drugs using a vibrating-mesh nebulizer has gained popularity because of its high delivery efficiency, low residual dose, and lack of requirement for external gas power [1,2]. Beck-Broichsitter et al, evaluated vibrating-mesh nebulizer performance using solutions of different viscosities and reported that particle size measured in volume median diameter decreased as the solution viscosity and nebulizer output rate increased [12]. They further illustrated that the aerosol particle size decreased with increasing sodium chloride concentration that increased ion conductivity [10,11]. Ghazanfari et al, compared the performance of vibrating-mesh nebulizer using solutions of different viscosities and surface tensions and showed that low viscosity and reduced surface tension shortened nebulization time and increased the output rate [13]. Electrolyte conductivity of formulations has a greater impact on the performance of vibrating-mesh nebulizers than jet nebulizers [14]
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