BIODEGRADABLE NANO-, MESO-, AND MICRO-POLYMER PARTICLES FOR MAINTAINING A LOW SURFACE TENSION IN THE LUNG AND FOR PROTECTING THE PULMONARY SURFACTANT

摘要

The present invention provides nano-, meso- and micro-polymer particles which are able to bind pathogenic proteins penetrating into the lining layer of the lung. Known pathogenic proteins in the pulmonary lining layer are negatively charged. These proteins damage the pulmonary surfactant system which is essential to maintain a low surface tension in the lung and thus a functional respiration. Polymer particles of this invention have a diameter between 20 nm and 10 mum, are water-insoluble, have a positive surface charge and a low surface hydrophobicity. The isoelectric point of said particles is greater than 5 to that said particles are present in the lining layer of the lung as positively charged particles, and at the same time higher than the isoelectric point of the pathogenic protein to be bound. Polymer particles of this invention can for example be prepared using the precipitation or emulsion method. Polymer particles of this invention can be utilized for maintaining a low surface tension in the lung and for protecting the pulmonary surfactant.