intranasal administration
The process of inserting drug molecules through the nose.
intranasal administration
The process of inserting drug molecules through the nose.
Brownian-like
Following a path similar to the Brownian motion of small particles in fluid, which is random movement due to continuous collisions with the surrounding molecules in the fluid.
expectorated
Coughed out from the throat or lungs.
encapsulation
Trapping something inside another object, or a capsule.
Here, encapsulation refers to trapping drug molecules inside the nanoparticle.
complexation
The process of combining different atoms, ions, or molecules to form one large molecule or ion due to electrostatic and/or hydrophobic interactions.
corticosteroids
Steroid hormones that are produced in the kidneys or synthetically in the laboratory and can be used to treat inflammations.
colloidal stability
Refers to the particles' ability to stay dispersed in a fluid without separating from the solution (precipitation) or forming big clusters (aggregation) within a period of time.
Hydrodynamic diameter
The diameter of a sphere that has the same hydrodynamic friction with that of the nanoparticle.
noncovalent
A form of bonding that does not involve the bonding between pairs of atoms.
hydrophobic
Repelled by water molecules.
diblock copolymer
A polymer of two different polymer chains chemically bonded together in a specific order. For example, a linear diblock copolymer of the type A-B with 5 A monomers connected to 4 B monomers is a single chain A-A-A-A-A-B-B-B-B.
triblock
A polymer of three different polymer chains, which are chemically bonded together in a specific order. For example, a linear triblock copolymer of the type A-B-C with 5 A monomers connected to 4 B monomers connected to 5 C monomers is a single chain A-A-A-A-A-B-B-B-B-C-C-C-C-C.
well-PEGylated
Coated or surrounded in great extend by polymeric chains of poly(ethylene glycol).
CF sputum
CF stands for cystic fibrosis, a disease in the lungs.
Sputum is a mixture of saliva and mucus that is produced because of a disease, such as cystic fibrosis, and comes out of the the human body through the passage formed from the mouth, nose, throat, and lungs.
conjugating
The joining of two or more chemical compounds.
in vitro
Experiments taking place in test tubes, culture dishes, or other controlled environments outside of living organisms.
ex vivo
Experiments that take place in controlled external environments on tissues extracted from living organisms.
in vivo
Experiments taking place inside living organisms.
retention
To absorb and continue holding or keeping on a surface.
Mucoadhesive
Have the ability to stick to mucus.
Mucus is a slimy substance that is produced in the human body (e.g. nose, throat, cervix) to protect and lubricate specific areas.
pulmonary drug delivery
A pulmonary process is related to lung tissue.
Pulmonary drug delivery is the insertion of drug molecules to the human body through mouth to reach the lungs and treat lung-related diseases.