Abstract
Purpose. Small solutes which are deposited in the alveoli by aerosolinhalation will be absorbed across the alveolo-capillary barrier.Inhalation of dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate (DOSS) enhances absorptionwhile having little or no effect on lung function, suggesting that surfaceactive agents may be used as enhancers of alveolar absorption ofinhaled pharmaceuticals. The purpose of this study was to examinethe effects of a selection of different surface active agents onalveolar absorption.
Methods. The absorption of 99mTc-diethylene triamine pentaacetate(99mTc-DTPA) from the lungs was studied in rabbits. We studied fivedifferent surface active agents: DOSS, sodium glycodioxycholate(GDCA), sodium lauryl sulphate (NaLS), lysophosphatidyl choline(LPC) and polyoxyethylene-23-laurylether (P23LE).
Results. DOSS and GDCA both dramatically enhanced the absorptionof 99mTc-DTPA. There was a moderate effect of NaLS, no significanteffect of LPC and P23LE reduced the rate of absorption. None of thecompounds affected gas exchange or lung compliance.
Conclusions. There is a wide spectrum of effects of inhaled surfaceactive agents on the alveolar absorption of 99mTc-DTPA. Ioniccompounds such as DOSS and GDCA have the greatest effect, and furtherstudies of these classes of surface active agents for use as enhancersof alveolar absorption of pharmaceuticals seem warranted.
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Wollmer, P., Bäckström, K., Zhao, H. et al. Surface Active Agents as Enhancers of Alveolar Absorption. Pharm Res 17, 38–41 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007562307414
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007562307414