In the lung, the airway epithelium
produces secreted and tethered
mucin biopolymers to form a mucus hydrogel layer and a surface-attached
polymer brush layer. These layers work in concert to facilitate the
cilia-mediated transport of mucus for the capture and clearance of
inhaled materials to prevent lung damage. The mechanisms by which
mucin biopolymers protect the lung from injury have been an intense
area of study in airway biology for the past several decades. In this
feature article, we will discuss how airway mucins achieve these protective
barrier functions. We will present the key findings, rooted in polymer
and surface science, that have aided in understanding mucin barrier
function. In addition, we will describe how this work may influence
the design of nanoparticles to overcome the mucus barrier to effective
drug delivery.
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