Liquid Atomizing: Nebulizing and Other Methods of Producing Aerosols

The bioaerosols emitted from toilet and wastewater treatment plant: a literature review

The aerosols harboring microorganisms and viruses released from the wastewater system into the air have greatly threatened the health and safety of human beings. The wastewater systems, including toilet and wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), are the major locations of epidemic infections due to the extensive sources of aerosols, as well as multifarious germs and microorganisms. Viruses and microorganisms may transport from both toilet and hospital into municipal pipes and subsequently into WWTP, which accounts for the main source of bioaerosols dispersed in the air of the wastewater system. This review aims to elaborate the generation, transmission, and diffusion processes of bioaerosols at toilet and WWTP. Moreover, the main factors affecting bioaerosol transmission and the corresponding prevention strategies for the airborne and inhaled bioaerosols are also discussed. Collectively, this review highlights the importance of managing bioaerosol occurrence in the wastewater system, which has aroused increasing concern from the public.

Clinical experimentation with aerosol antibiotics: current and future methods of administration

Currently almost all antibiotics are administered by the intravenous route. Since several systems and situations require more efficient methods of administration, investigation and experimentation in drug design has produced local treatment modalities. Administration of antibiotics in aerosol form is one of the treatment methods of increasing interest. As the field of drug nanotechnology grows, new molecules have been produced and combined with aerosol production systems. In the current review, we discuss the efficiency of aerosol antibiotic studies along with aerosol production systems. The different parts of the aerosol antibiotic methodology are presented. Additionally, information regarding the drug molecules used is presented and future applications of this method are discussed.

Current therapies and technological advances in aqueous aerosol drug delivery

Recent advances in aerosolization technology have led to renewed interest in pulmonary delivery of a variety of drugs. Pressurized metered dose inhalers (pMDIs) and dry powder inhalers (DPIs) have experienced success in recent years; however, many limitations are presented by formulation difficulties, inefficient delivery, and complex device designs. Simplification of the formulation process as well as adaptability of new devices has led many in the pharmaceutical industry to reconsider aerosolization in an aqueous carrier. In the acute care setting, breath-enhanced air-jet nebulizers are controlling and minimizing the amount of wasted medication, while producing a high percentage of respirable droplets. Vibrating mesh nebulizers offer advantages in higher respirable fractions (RFs) and slower velocity aerosols when compared with air-jet nebulizers. Vibrating mesh nebulizers incorporating formulation and patient adaptive components provide improvements to continuous nebulization technology by generating aerosol only when it is most likely to reach the deep lung. Novel innovations in generation of liquid aerosols are now being adapted for propellant-free pulmonary drug delivery to achieve unprecedented control over dose delivered and are leading the way for the adaptation of systemic drugs for delivery via the pulmonary route. Devices designed for the metered dose delivery of insulin, morphine, sildenafil, triptans, and various peptides are all currently under investigation for pulmonary delivery to treat nonrespiratory diseases. Although these devices are currently still in clinical testing (with the exception of the Respimat), metered dose liquid inhalers (MDLIs) have already shown superior outcomes to current pulmonary and systemic delivery methods.

The nanoscale in pulmonary delivery. Part 2: formulation platforms

This article is the second part of a review on the nanoscale in pulmonary drug delivery. Specifically it summarises and analyses the potential of the different inhalation delivery routes: nebulisers, dry powder inhalers, pressurised metered-dose inhalers, for the delivery of nanoparticles or nanodroplets. Few products and experimental studies have managed to fully exploit the nanoscale in inhalation delivery, although some may unknowingly benefit from it. Nebulisers are the most advanced in using the nanoscale, pressurised metered-dose inhalers require further developments to realise its full potential, and dry powder inhalers are specifically in need of a dry solid nanoparticle generation technique to make it a reality.

[Nebulized drugs: the evolution?]

The revival of nebulization as a drug delivery route is real. The current delivery systems respond to the new European norms, the new mesh-vibrating nebulizers allow delivering drugs more quickly, other nebulizers, more performant because of less drug losses and of a better lung deposition of the drug, are in progress. Only 12 drugs are commercialized for nebulization. All are available in dispensaries, some requiring a first prescription by a physician working in a hospital (cystic fibrosis drugs), others requiring a prescription from only some specialists as paediatricians or pulmonologists (bronchodilators). Works are in progress concerning the diameter and shape of the drug particles (nanotechnology) and also concerning the use of nebulized drugs for a systemic effect (vaccines, insulin, cyclosporine, anticancerous agents, etc.).