J0220103 Effect of Rheological Properties on Ciliary Flow in the Airway

Abstract

Although we inhale air including virus and bacteria, these harmful substances are trapped on the surface of tracheal lumen and transported toward larynx from the trachea by ciliary motion. In this study, we investigated cilia-generated flow and ciliary motion in detail by changing the viscosity of mucous layer. In order to elucidate the effect of viscosity on the flow, we measured ciliary beat frequency (CBF). We found that CBF decreases as viscosity of mucous layer is raised. We then measured the motion of tracer particles in the fluid by a micro-PTV system. The mean flow velocity increases up to at the viscosity of 2.8mPa・s, but it decreases in high viscosity regime (>2.8mPa・s). These results illustrate that ciliated cells can generate directional flow even in the highly viscous conditions.