Interfacial properties of pulmonary surfactant layers

• Published in: Advances in colloid and interface science Vol. 117; no. 1; pp. 33 - 58
• Main Authors: Wüstneck, R., Perez-Gil, J., Wüstneck, N., Cruz, A., Fainerman, V.B., Pison, U.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 14.12.2005; Elsevier
• Subjects: 1,2-Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine - chemistry; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Chemistry; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General and physical chemistry; Humans; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; Lipids - chemistry; Molecular biophysics; Phospholipids; Physico-chemical properties of biomolecules; Protein Structure, Secondary; Proteins - chemistry; Proteolipids - chemistry; Pulmonary surfactant; Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A - chemistry; Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein B - chemistry; Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein C - chemistry; Pulmonary Surfactants - chemistry; Surface behavior; Surface physical chemistry; Surface Properties; Surface-active agents: properties; Surfactant protein; Thermodynamics; Surfactant protein; Phospholipids; Pulmonary surfactant; Surface behavior; Human; Scanning electron microscopy; Phospholipid; Review; Surfactant; Respiratory system; Protein; Interface structure; Interface
• ISSN: 0001-8686; 1873-3727
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2005.05.001

The composition of the pulmonary surfactant and the border conditions of normal human breathing are relevant to characterize the interfacial behavior of pulmonary layers. Based on experimental data methods are reviewed to investigate interfacial properties of artificial pulmonary layers and to explain the behavior and interfacial structures of the main components during compression and expansion of the layers observed by epifluorescence and scanning force microscopy. Terms like over-compression, collapse, and formation of the surfactant reservoir are discussed. Consequences for the viscoelastic surface rheological behavior of such layers are elucidated by surface pressure relaxation and harmonic oscillation experiments. Based on a generalized Volmer isotherm the interfacial phase transition is discussed for the hydrophobic surfactant proteins, SP-B and SP-C, as well as for the mixtures of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) with these proteins. The behavior of the layers depends on both the oligomerisation state and the secondary structure of the hydrophobic surfactant proteins, which are controlled by the preparation of the proteins. An example for the surface properties of bronchoalveolar porcine lung washings of uninjured, injured, and Curosurf treated lavage is discussed in the light of surface behavior. An outlook summarizes the present knowledge and the main future development in this field of surface science.