Use of mucolytics to enhance magnetic particle retention at a model airway surface

• Published in: Journal of magnetism and magnetic materials Vol. 320; no. 12; pp. 1834 - 1843
• Main Authors: Ally, Javed, Roa, Wilson, Amirfazli, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.06.2008; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Airways; Biological and medical sciences; Cancer; Drug targeting; Lung; Magnetic particle; Medical sciences; Mucolytic; Mucus; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Respiratory system; Mucolytic; Airways; Magnetic particle; Lung; Drug targeting; Mucus; Cancer; Viscoelasticity; Magnetic flux; Drug delivery systems; Particle cluster; Cesium alloy; Dextran derivatives; Magnetic particles; High field; Airways obstruction; Sodium alloy
• ISSN: 0304-8853
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jmmm.2008.02.162

A previous study has shown that retention of magnetic particles at a model airway surface requires prohibitively strong magnetic fields. As mucus viscoelasticity is the most significant factor contributing to clearance of magnetic particles from the airway surface, mucolytics are considered in this study to reduce mucus viscoelasticity and enable particle retention with moderate strength magnetic fields. The excised frog palate model was used to simulate the airway surface. Two mucolytics, N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and dextran sulfate (DS) were tested. NAC was found to enable retention at moderate field values (148 mT with a gradient of 10.2 T/m), whereas DS was found to be effective only for sufficiently large particle concentrations at the airway surface. The possible mechanisms for the observed behavior with different mucolytics are also discussed based on aggregate formation and the loading of cilia.