A comparison of the delivery of inhaled drugs by jet nebulizer and vibrating mesh nebulizer using dual-source dual-energy computed tomography in rabbits: a preliminary in vivo study

BACKGROUND: Radionuclide imaging is the primary method of visually evaluating drug deposition in the lungs. Here, we used a new imaging technique, dual-source dual-energy computed tomography (DSDECT), to compare the ability of two nebulizers commonly used in clinical practice to deposit drugs in the lungs. METHODS: Male New Zealand White rabbits were randomly divided into a vibrating mesh nebulizer group and a small volume jet nebulizer group. First, two rabbits received methylene blue-iohexol-normal saline by inhalation to confirm that DSDECT was a feasible method of assessing aerosol inhalation. Then, 10 rabbits were subjected to DSDECT scan before and after receiving a iohexol-normal saline mixture by inhalation. All images were transferred and reconstructed on a workstation computer equipped with dedicated software. RESULTS: DSDECT revealed the same iodine distribution as tracheobronchial methylene blue staining on dissection. Significant differences between the groups in average CT value and iodine concentration were noted in the right upper lobe (P<0.05), but no other lobes showed statistically significant differences. The regional distribution of drugs in different lobes of the lung varied by nebulizer. CONCLUSIONS: DSDECT is a useful method of evaluating drug deposition in the lungs, and vibrating mesh nebulizers deposit more drugs than small volume jet nebulizers.