Summary
In this study the development of an advanced integrated respiratory (AIR) model, a bench-top platform to measure regional aerosol deposition, toxicity, and pharmacokinetics of inhaled aerosols is presented. This model simulates realistic inhalation and interaction of aerosols with human airway barriers under air-liquid interface (ALI) conditions. Lectin from Ricinus Communis (RCA I) were used as simulants for inhaled toxins. Initial studies on RCA I involved conventional cytotoxicity and barrier function assays on human respiratory alveolar cell line (H441) in solution. Subsequently, different doses of RCA I were aerosolised and their deposition in the lower airway evaluated using the AIR model integrated with H441 cells grown under ALI conditions. Additionally, a time course of the RCA I aerosol transport across the H441 cells at toxic and non-toxic concentrations were quantified using electric cell-substrate impedance sensing (ECIS). This integrated approach represents a significant advancement in the study of inhaled aerosol deposition, toxicity, and pharmacokinetics, offering a robust tool for predicting lung injury and enhancing the detection of a wide range of inhaled aerosols, including but not limited to toxins.