This book provides a comprehensive and integrated overview of the journey of inhaled particles, from their characterization and deposition in the respiratory tract to their interactions with biological barriers like mucus and pulmonary surfactant, and finally, their systemic distribution and clearance. Bridging the fields of respiratory physiology, aerosol science, computational fluid dynamics, molecular biophysics, and pharmacokinetics, it offers a systematic framework for understanding both therapeutic aerosol delivery and the health risks of environmental pollutants. This volume is an essential reference for graduate students, researchers, and professionals working on inhaled drug delivery, inhalation toxicology, and the dynamics of airborne particles in the human body.

Xinguang Cui received his B.E. degree from Beihang University in 2001, an M.S. degree from Tsinghua University in 2008, and a Ph.D. degree from Heidelberg University in 2012, all in the field of fluid mechanics. Following his Ph.D., he conducted research at renowned institutes including Nanyang Technological University and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Since 2019, he has been an Associate Professor at the Huazhong University of Science and Technology, where he founded the Laboratory of Aerosol Transport in Biological and Environmental Fluids. His research focuses on respiratory multiphase flows, with recent interests in aerosol deposition in the human respiratory system, airborne virus transmission in indoor environments, and inhaled drug delivery. Dr. Cui has published over 50 peer-reviewed research papers and is the editor of this multi-contributor volume that integrates contributions from leading experts across multiple disciplines.