New approaches to nebulizer drug delivery

Nebulization therapy is a modern and efficient method of administering drugs with obvious results, which revolutionized the treatment of respiratory disorders such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (bronchitis and pulmonary emphysema). Global competitive pressure and strong growth in the demand for more efficient and more clinically effective nebulizer systems, coupled with the recent technological development in microelectronics and nanotechnology have driven to fundamental changes in nebulizer technologies. In this paper we approach a variety of new technological solutions that have been developed to overcome the many problems related to nebulizer systems: the virtual valve technology for conventional compressed gas (jet nebulizers), ultrasonic nebulizers (two tanks construction) and the new generation of vibrating mesh nebulizers.