Numerical analysis of collision mechanism that causes particle tribocharging in dry powder inhaler

Abstract Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is induced by inhalation of toxic substances such as cigarettes and air pollution. Dry powder inhalers (DPIs) are the primary treatment for these diseases. However, they have some problems, such as residuals in a capsule caused by electrostatic f...

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Main Authors: Ryosuke Mitani, Muhammad Aiman bin Mohd Nor, Takuto Iinuma, Tatsuhiro Mori, Tomoaki Okuda
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2025-01-01
Series:Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s44273-025-00049-0
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author Ryosuke Mitani
Muhammad Aiman bin Mohd Nor
Takuto Iinuma
Tatsuhiro Mori
Tomoaki Okuda
author_facet Ryosuke Mitani
Muhammad Aiman bin Mohd Nor
Takuto Iinuma
Tatsuhiro Mori
Tomoaki Okuda
author_sort Ryosuke Mitani
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is induced by inhalation of toxic substances such as cigarettes and air pollution. Dry powder inhalers (DPIs) are the primary treatment for these diseases. However, they have some problems, such as residuals in a capsule caused by electrostatic force before reaching the human lungs. This study investigated the particle tribocharging mechanism in a DPI using a tandem differential mobility analyzer (TDMA) and a combined discrete element method and computational fluid dynamics (DEM-CFD) approach. In the TDMA experiment, the charging state of the particles changed from negative to positive charge in the DPI device fabricated by the 3D printer. This is because tribocharging is caused by particle–particle collisions and particle–wall collisions. In the numerical simulation, particle–wall collisions occurred more frequently than particle–particle collisions. Therefore, the particle–wall collisions change the charging state of the particle in the DPI device. These results suggest that collisions between particles and walls of the device cause the particles to become charged, leading to a decrease in their deposition in the deeper regions of the lungs. Moreover, the large turbulence kinetic energy of the airflow in the DPI device caused particle–wall collisions because the particles were widely dispersed in the DPI device. These results suggest that optimum turbulence kinetic energy is necessary to reduce particle aggregation and improve the delivery efficiency of DPIs to the human lungs. Graphical Abstract
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series Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
spelling doaj-art-46b5f1d59209487cb4bfc25c81513ade2025-01-26T12:15:05ZengSpringerAsian Journal of Atmospheric Environment1976-69122287-11602025-01-0119111610.1007/s44273-025-00049-0Numerical analysis of collision mechanism that causes particle tribocharging in dry powder inhalerRyosuke Mitani0Muhammad Aiman bin Mohd Nor1Takuto Iinuma2Tatsuhiro Mori3Tomoaki Okuda4Department of Applied Chemistry, Keio UniversityDepartment of Applied Chemistry, Keio UniversityDepartment of Applied Chemistry, Keio UniversityDepartment of Applied Chemistry, Keio UniversityDepartment of Applied Chemistry, Keio UniversityAbstract Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is induced by inhalation of toxic substances such as cigarettes and air pollution. Dry powder inhalers (DPIs) are the primary treatment for these diseases. However, they have some problems, such as residuals in a capsule caused by electrostatic force before reaching the human lungs. This study investigated the particle tribocharging mechanism in a DPI using a tandem differential mobility analyzer (TDMA) and a combined discrete element method and computational fluid dynamics (DEM-CFD) approach. In the TDMA experiment, the charging state of the particles changed from negative to positive charge in the DPI device fabricated by the 3D printer. This is because tribocharging is caused by particle–particle collisions and particle–wall collisions. In the numerical simulation, particle–wall collisions occurred more frequently than particle–particle collisions. Therefore, the particle–wall collisions change the charging state of the particle in the DPI device. These results suggest that collisions between particles and walls of the device cause the particles to become charged, leading to a decrease in their deposition in the deeper regions of the lungs. Moreover, the large turbulence kinetic energy of the airflow in the DPI device caused particle–wall collisions because the particles were widely dispersed in the DPI device. These results suggest that optimum turbulence kinetic energy is necessary to reduce particle aggregation and improve the delivery efficiency of DPIs to the human lungs. Graphical Abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1007/s44273-025-00049-0Dry powder inhalerParticle behaviorComputational fluid dynamicsDiscrete element methodAerosol
spellingShingle Ryosuke Mitani
Muhammad Aiman bin Mohd Nor
Takuto Iinuma
Tatsuhiro Mori
Tomoaki Okuda
Numerical analysis of collision mechanism that causes particle tribocharging in dry powder inhaler
Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
Dry powder inhaler
Particle behavior
Computational fluid dynamics
Discrete element method
Aerosol
title Numerical analysis of collision mechanism that causes particle tribocharging in dry powder inhaler
title_full Numerical analysis of collision mechanism that causes particle tribocharging in dry powder inhaler
title_fullStr Numerical analysis of collision mechanism that causes particle tribocharging in dry powder inhaler
title_full_unstemmed Numerical analysis of collision mechanism that causes particle tribocharging in dry powder inhaler
title_short Numerical analysis of collision mechanism that causes particle tribocharging in dry powder inhaler
title_sort numerical analysis of collision mechanism that causes particle tribocharging in dry powder inhaler
topic Dry powder inhaler
Particle behavior
Computational fluid dynamics
Discrete element method
Aerosol
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s44273-025-00049-0
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AT takutoiinuma numericalanalysisofcollisionmechanismthatcausesparticletribochargingindrypowderinhaler
AT tatsuhiromori numericalanalysisofcollisionmechanismthatcausesparticletribochargingindrypowderinhaler
AT tomoakiokuda numericalanalysisofcollisionmechanismthatcausesparticletribochargingindrypowderinhaler