Black foam films application in medicine

The alveolar surface represents a thin liquid film formed at the interface between the alveolar gas phase and a liquid hypophase covering the epithelium. This film is stabilised by the alveolar surfactant (AS), consisting mainly of phospholipids and proteins. AS plays an important role in alveolar stabilisation in the process of breathing. It is known that AS components exist as individual molecules and as various lipid and protein/lipid micellar structures present in the so-called hypophase and, according to some researchers, form a continuous lipid monolayer at the water/air interface [e.g. 1-4]. 

AS can be studied in human or animal lung extracts as well as in the amniotic fluid (AF) where AS molecules are present [2,4-6]. Along with the biochemical, cytochemical and other techniques of AS investigation, very useful information can be derived from the model studies of lipid and protein/lipid monolayers at liquid substrates. These models provide important data about lung mechanics [e.g. 7-11]. 

---