Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (nRDS) is a disease of lung surfactant deficiency, meaning patients struggle to breathe, and this leads to high rates of mortality and morbidity. Current treatment options include non-invasive ventilation support and lung surfactant intratracheal administration. However, these methods have limitations, including invasiveness and uneven distribution of surfactants in the lungs.
James Min, Senior Scientist at Pfizer, proposed that using microbubbles in aerosols improves lung penetration and distribution of surfactants. Microbubbles were hypothesized to reduce aerosol density, thereby enhancing penetration into the small nasal airways of preterm infants. The study used a setup mimicking clinical conditions, including non-invasive mechanical ventilation support and a 3D-printed model of a preterm baby's airways.
The results showed that incorporating microbubbles into aerosols reduced aerodynamic diameter and increased the number of aerosols with sizes below one micrometre. Moreover, microbubble aerosols demonstrated improved lung penetration compared to conventional aerosols in the preterm neonate model.
Min stated that the limitations of the study included its reliance on a single 3D-printed model and the lack of an exhalation mechanism in the model. He elaborated that further investigation is needed to confirm the role of submicron aerosols in lung penetration.
In conclusion, the study suggested that microbubbles could enhance the effectiveness of nebulized lung surfactant therapy in preterm infants by improving aerosol penetration into the lungs.
