Properties of mixed monolayers of clinical lung surfactant, serum albumin and hydrophilic polymers.

It is now established that the surface activity of the clinically used lung surfactant is reduced by serum proteins and can be restored by adding the hydrophilic polymers. The mechanisms of lung surfactant inactivation by serum proteins and restoring effect by the hydrophilic polymers remain not completely understood. In this paper the state and rheological dilatational properties of surface films formed from clinical lung surfactant Exosurf, Survanta, Curosurf and Alveofact in the presence of serum albumin (BSA) and hydrophilic polymers polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), polyethylene glycol (PEG) and Dextran were studied.