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Mechanisms of Pharmaceutical Aerosol Deposition in the Respiratory Tract

  • Review Article
  • Theme: Advances in Formulation and Device Technologies for Pulmonary Drug Delivery
  • Published:
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Abstract

Aerosol delivery is noninvasive and is effective in much lower doses than required for oral administration. Currently, there are several types of therapeutic aerosol delivery systems, including the pressurized metered-dose inhaler, the dry powder inhaler, the medical nebulizer, the solution mist inhaler, and the nasal sprays. Both oral and nasal inhalation routes are used for the delivery of therapeutic aerosols. Following inhalation therapy, only a fraction of the dose reaches the expected target area. Knowledge of the amount of drug actually deposited is essential in designing the delivery system or devices to optimize the delivery efficiency to the targeted region of the respiratory tract. Aerosol deposition mechanisms in the human respiratory tract have been well studied. Prediction of pharmaceutical aerosol deposition using established lung deposition models has limited success primarily because they underestimated oropharyngeal deposition. Recent studies of oropharyngeal deposition of several drug delivery systems identify other factors associated with the delivery system that dominates the transport and deposition of the oropharyngeal region. Computational fluid dynamic simulation of the aerosol transport and deposition in the respiratory tract has provided important insight into these processes. Investigation of nasal spray deposition mechanisms is also discussed.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) contracts 254-2010-M-36304 and 214-2012-M-52048 and NIOSH grants R01 OH009801 and R01 OH010062.

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  1. Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute (LRRI), 2425 Ridgecrest, SE, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87108, USA

    Yung Sung Cheng

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  1. Yung Sung Cheng
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Correspondence to Yung Sung Cheng.

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Guest Editors: Paul B. Myrdal and Steve W. Stein

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Cheng, Y.S. Mechanisms of Pharmaceutical Aerosol Deposition in the Respiratory Tract. AAPS PharmSciTech 15, 630–640 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1208/s12249-014-0092-0

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