Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Beni Suef, Beni Suef, Egypt.
Pharm Dev Technol. 2011 Apr;16(2):137-45. doi: 10.3109/10837450903511194. Epub 2010 Jan 25.
Characterization of the aerosol emitted from nebulizers is determined using the Next Generation Impactor (NGI). The Andersen Cascade Impactor (ACI) was previously used but the limitation of high flow rate used decreased its uses. We have investigated the use of ACI with different operational conditions compared to the NGI methodology. NGI was operated at a flow rate of 15 L min⁻¹ after cooling at 5°C for 90 min. ACI was operated using flow rates 15 and 28.3 L min⁻¹ at room (ROOM) temperature and after cooling at 5 °C for 60 min (COLD). ACI was also operated using a flow rate 15 L min⁻¹ through the nebulizer T-piece with a flow rate 28.3 L min⁻¹ through ACI (15 Mix) using the mixing valve at ROOM and COLD. Two nebulizer systems, the Sidestream (SIDE) and the Aeroneb Pro (AERO) were used to nebulize terbutaline sulphate respiratory solution. Overall there was a highly significant difference (P < 0.001) between different ACI operating conditions for FPF and MMAD of both nebulizer systems. The ACI at higher flow rate increased the evaporation effect whilst cooling minimized evaporation of both nebulizer systems. Hence cooling and using slow flow rate minimizes evaporation effects with ACI. The ACI 15COLD results were similar to that of NGI. That supports the use of ACI at inhalation flow rate 15 L min⁻¹ without fear of domination of gravity on ACI stages.
采用下一代撞击器（NGI）对雾化器产生的气溶胶进行特性描述。之前曾使用安德森级联撞击器（ACI），但由于高流量的限制，其应用受到限制。我们研究了在与 NGI 方法不同的操作条件下使用 ACI。NGI 在冷却 5°C 90 分钟后以 15 L min⁻¹的流速运行。ACI 在室温下以 15 和 28.3 L min⁻¹的流速运行，在冷却 5°C 60 分钟后（COLD）运行。ACI 还通过雾化器 T 件以 15 L min⁻¹的流速运行，通过 ACI（15 Mix）以 28.3 L min⁻¹的流速运行，使用混合阀在室温（ROOM）和 COLD 下运行。使用 Sidestream（SIDE）和 Aeroneb Pro（AERO）两种雾化器系统对硫酸特布他林呼吸溶液进行雾化。总体而言，两种雾化器系统的 ACI 在不同操作条件下的 FPF 和 MMAD 之间存在高度显著差异（P < 0.001）。高流量的 ACI 增加了蒸发效应，而冷却则最小化了两种雾化器系统的蒸发。因此，冷却和使用低流速可以将 ACI 的蒸发效应最小化。ACI 15COLD 的结果与 NGI 相似。这支持在吸入流速为 15 L min⁻¹ 时使用 ACI，而不必担心重力对 ACI 阶段的影响。
