Optimal Drug-Aerosol Delivery to Predetermined Lung Sites

Abstract

This review summarizes computer simulation methodologies of air-particle flow, results of drug-aerosol transport/deposition in models of the human respiratory system, as well as aspects of drug-aerosol targeting and associated inhalation devices. After a brief introduction to drug delivery systems in general, the required modeling and simulation steps for optimal drug-aerosol delivery in the lung are outlined. Starting with medical imaging and file conversion of patient-specific lung-airway morphologies, the air-particle transport phenomena are numerically solved for a representative inhalation flow rate of Qtotal=30 l/min. Focusing on microspheres and droplets, the complex airflow and particle dynamics, as well as the droplet heat and mass transfer are illustrated. With this foundation as the background, an overview of present inhaler devices is presented, followed by a discussion of the methodology and features of a new smart inhaler system (SIS). With the SIS, inhaled drug-aerosols can be directly delivered to any predetermined target area in the human lung.