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 invention relates to biocompatible nano-, meso-, and micro-polymer particles which can bind pathogenic proteins that penetrate into the lining layer of the lung. Known pathogenic proteins in the pulmonary lining layer are negatively charged. Said proteins damage the pulmonary surfactant system, which is essential for maintaining a low surface tension in the lung and thus for functional breathing. Polymer particles according to the invention have a diameter between 20 nm and 10 pm, are water-insoluble, and have a positive surface charge and a low surface hydrophobicity. The isoelectric point of the particles is greater than 5, so that the particles are present in the lining layer of the lung as positively charged particles, and also greater than the isoelectric point of the pathogenic proteins to be bound. The polymer particles according to the invention can be produced by means of precipitation or emulsion methods for example. The polymer particles according to the invention can be used for maintaining a low surface tension in the lung and for protecting the pulmonary surfactant.