Liquid atomizing: nebulizing and other methods of producing aerosols.

Liquid atomization (or nebulization) is the most traditional method of drug delivery to the lung. Although other methods seem to often be preferred for the delivery of new drugs, nebulizers are experiencing a revival, with new devices based on different atomization techniques, and the more traditional jet nebulizers evolving to become "smart nebulizers." These smart devices synchronize delivery with the patient's breath, estimate or measure delivered dose, provide feedback and data storage, and in some cases control breathing maneuvers. Besides adding new features, new nebulizers are also addressing traditional shortcomings, namely, reducing size, bulkiness, and power consumption. But in the longer term, nebulizers are expected to offer even more important features. Following the trend toward individually optimized therapy, nebulizers will be able to estimate deposited dosage and concentrations in the lung. In addition, as progress in nanotechnology allows the development of smart drug carrying particles, advanced liquid nebulization is expected to be the delivery mode of choice for these smart particle aerosols.