Fluticasone Particles Bind to Motile Respiratory Cilia: A Mechanism for Enhanced Lung and Systemic Exposure?

Inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) are the main prophylactic treatment for asthma and are used in other diseases, including chronic pulmonary obstructive disease, yet the interaction of ICS particles with the ciliated epithelium remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the earliest interaction of aerosolized fluticasone propionate (FP) particles with human ciliated respiratory epithelium. A bespoke system was developed to allow aerosolized FP particles to be delivered to ciliated epithelial cultures by nebulization and from a pressurized metered-dose inhaler (pMDI) through a spacer with interactions observed in real time using high-speed video microscopy.