Abstract
The surfactant-lining alveolar surface is a prerequisite for gas exchange in order to fulfill the energy needs of the living organism. Surfactant is composed of lipids, mainly phospholipids, and four surfactant-associated proteins. It facilitates alveolar increase during inspiration and prevents their collapse at end-expiration. Insufficient amounts of surfactant in premature babies can be successfully treated with surfactant preparations derived from animal lungs. Preliminary studies show that in a near future synthetic surfactants may replace or be an alternative to animal-derived preparations.
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Curstedt, T. (2018). Molecular Structure of Surfactant: Biochemical Aspects in Newborns. In: Buonocore, G., Bracci, R., Weindling, M. (eds) Neonatology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-29489-6_200
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-29489-6_200
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Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
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Online ISBN: 978-3-319-29489-6
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