Nebulization criteria and quantification

Abstract

The application of atomization technology is common in fields such as agriculture, cosmetics, environmental sciences, and medicine. Aerosolized drugs are administered using nebulizers to treat both pulmonary and nonpulmonary diseases. The characterization and measurement of nebulizers are of great significance in analyzing the performance and accuracy of the nebulizing system and the advancement of the technology. Nevertheless, the characterization of aerosols has been a long-standing challenge in scientific disciplines ranging from atmospheric physics to health sciences. The study of factors that influence nebulization has not been undertaken systematically using experimental techniques. Numerical modeling (NM) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) can address such issues. This article provides a concise overview of the literature on the application of computational fluid dynamics to medical nebulizers and aerosol measurements.