Rheological Behaviour and Drainage of Microscopic Foam Films from Infasurf

Abstract

Recently foam film formation from therapeutic surfactants was studied by Scarpelli et al. (1997), Exerowa et al. (1997). Infasurf was found the most effective among the three preparations tested - Infasurf, Exosurf and Survanta. Alveolar surfactant is a thin liquid film containing lipids and specific proteins,which lines the alveolar surface and lowers surface tension to prevent collapse at end-expiration. The surfactant is prescribed clinically as surfactant replacement therapy for surfactant-deficient neonatal infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). In this study we report in more details the rheological behaviour of Infasurf (Burroughs Welcome Co., Research Triangle Parc, NC) as well as their links with the morphology and stability of the foam films.