On the correlation of output rate and aerodynamic characteristics in vibrating-mesh-based aqueous aerosol delivery

Aerosolization of aqueous formulations is of special interest for inhalative drug delivery, where an adequate nebulizer performance represents a prerequisite for improving pulmonary therapy. The present study investigated the interplay of output rate and aerodynamic characteristics of different excipient-based formulations and its impact on the atomization process by vibrating-mesh technology (i.e. eFlow®rapid). Output rate and aerodynamic characteristics were manipulated by both dynamic viscosity and conductivity of the applied formulation. Supplementation with sucrose and sodium chloride caused a decline (down to ∼0.2 g/min) and elevation (up to ∼1.0 g/min) of the nebulizer output rate, respectively. However, both excipients were capable of decreasing the aerodynamic diameter of produced aerosol droplets from >7.0 μm to values of ≤5.0 μm. Thus, the correlation of output rate and aerodynamic characteristics resulted in linear fits of opposite slopes (R2 > 0.85). Finally, the overall number of delivered aerosol droplets per time was almost constant for sucrose (≤1 × 108 droplets/s), while for sodium chloride a concentration-dependent increase was observed (up to ∼3 × 108 droplets/s). Overall, the current findings illustrated the influence of formulation parameters on the aerosolization process performed by vibrating-mesh technology. Moreover, concentration and charge distribution of aerosol populations supposedly modify the final characteristics of the delivered aerosols.