Interaction of Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Proteins with Phospholipid Vesicles

The terminal airways and alveoli of lungs are stabilized and protected against collapse by the presence of a specialized material called pulmonary surfactant. In order to achieve its function, this system must be spread as a monomolecular layer at the air-water interface of the aqueous film covering the alveolar epithelium, substantially reducing its surface tension (Keough, 1992).