Platform for Exposing Aerosolized Substances to Lung Surfactant and Alveolar Cells at the Air-Liquid Interface

Abstract

Lung surfactant lowers surface tension in the alveoli, playing a critical role in lung function and immune defense. Inhaled aerosol particles may induce adverse health effects via the interruption of lung surfactant surface tension. Previous generations of surfactometers have been developed and used to characterize surfactants and their response to various exposures. However, these devices do not allow for simultaneous exposure with multiple aerosols, the incorporation of multiple aerosolization methods, or the co-exposure scenario involving both lung surfactant fluid and pulmonary cells/tissues. Herein, we introduce a new configuration, termed the aerosol exposure surfactometer (AESM), that addresses all of these limitations. The results indicate correlation of surface tension changes in concordance with aerosol properties while preventing unwanted cell death. Further investigation using this method may elucidate mechanisms of pathogenesis related to surfactant dysfunction and provide the foundation for predictive models.