The Influence of Surfactant Physicochemical Properties on Pulmonary Interfacial Flow Analogues

Abstract Many of the lung’s mechanical properties are influenced by pulmonary surfactant physicochemical characteristics. Pulmonary surfactant is a complex lipid-protein mixture formed in the type II alveolar cells and secreted into the alveolar subphase [1]. These substances reduce the surface tension at the air-liquid interface of the lining fluid that coats the interior of the lung. At sufficiently high concentrations, pulmonary surfactant reduces the surface tension to near zero and. in the process, stabilizes the alveoli and small airways [2–4].