Effect of particle emissions from biofuel combustion on surface activity of model and therapeutic pulmonary surfactants

This study was designed to determine the effects of particle emissions from biofuel combustion in household cooking devices, commonly used in rural India, on surface activity of model lung surfactants using Langmuir monolayers. The effect of wood and dried particles from combustion of cowdung on the surface activity of model lung surfactant dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC), DPPC:PG (phosphatidyl glycerol) 7:3 and the therapeutic surfactant, Exosurf, were evaluated. Dried particles from combustion of cowdung in 50 wt.% mixture with DPPC elevated the γmin to 15.08 ± 1.28 mN/m and 50 wt.% particles from combustion of wood increased minimum surface tension γmin to 13.46 ± 1.70 mN/m from a zero value for DPPC alone. A graded response of inhibitory potential for all three surfactants with increasing doses was found for each type of particles. An increase in the minimum surface tension achieved by surfactants in the presence of biofuel particles implies surfactant dysfunction, a greater tendency of alveolar collapse in vivo on exposure to biofuel emissions and can lead to respiratory distress.