Mechanims of Aerosol Particle Deposition in the Oro-Pharynx Under Non-Steady Airflow

Abstract

Comparison of experimental and computational results of aerosol deposition in the oro-pharyngeal cast of human published recently (Sosnowski TR, Moskal A, Gradoń L. (2006) Inhal Toxicol; 18: 773-780) demonstrated the applicability and relevance of considering realistic breathing patterns in analysis of aerosol flow and deposition within the human head airways. This issue is extended in the current paper, focused on a detailed analysis of spatial and temporal distribution of particle deposition in the oro-pharynx during inspiration. CFD modeling was used to determine both the 3D airflow structure and the local particle deposition fluxes at two different inspiratory patterns. Behavior of aerosol (particle size: 0.3-10 micro m, material density: 2200 kg m(-3)) was analyzed applying Lagrangian approach and considering Brownian effects for submicron particles. Results indicate that particles of different sizes are deposited in different parts of the oro-pharynx, depending on the point in the inspiration cycle. Larger particles (3-10 micro m) are separated efficiently in the naso-pharyngeal bend due to inertia, which predominate in the middle phase of inspiration. Submicron particles are deposited more uniformly in the oro-pharyngeal space, and their separation from the air is enhanced in a short transition period between inspiration and expiration. It suggests the importance of mixing of inspired and expired air streams for particle deposition pattern. Comparison of our computational results of deposition to the approximation derived from the in vivo data (Stahlhofen W, Rudolf G, James AC. (1989) J Aerosol Med; 2: 285-308) shows a good agreement for particles, for which the inertia is a predominant mechanism of deposition. The results of this work lead to a more detailed description of the dynamics of oro-pharyngeal aerosol deposition during inspiratory part of the breathing cycle. The recognition of that problem is essential for prediction of toxic or pharmacological local effects of inhaled aerosols.