The rapid development of nanotechnology is opening a huge world of promising possibilities in healthcare, but this is also increasing the necessity to study the potential risk of nanoparticles on public health and the environment. Since the main route for airborne particles to enter into our organism is through the lungs, it has become essential to prove that the nanoparticles generated by human activities do not compromise the respiratory function. This review explains the key role of pulmonary surfactant to sustain the normal function of breathing, as well as the stability and immunity of lungs. Particular emphasis is made on the importance of analysing the features of nanoparticles, defining their interactions with surfactant and unravelling the mutual effects. The implication of the nanoparticle-surfactant interaction on the function and fate of both structures is described, as well as the main in vitro methodologies used to evaluate this interaction. Finally, the incorporation of pulmonary surfactant in appropriate in vitro models is used in order to obtain an extensive understanding of how nanoparticles may act in the context of the lung. The main goal of this review is to offer a general view on inhaled nanoparticles and their effects on the structure and function of lungs derived from their interaction with the pulmonary surfactant system.

纳米技术的飞速发展为医疗保健领域打开了广阔的前景，但是这也增加了研究纳米颗粒对公众健康和环境的潜在风险的必要性。由于空气中的颗粒物进入人体的主要途径是通过肺部，因此证明人类活动产生的纳米颗粒不会损害呼吸功能已变得至关重要。这篇评论解释了肺表面活性剂在维持呼吸正常功能以及肺部稳定性和免疫力方面的关键作用。特别强调分析纳米颗粒特征，定义其与表面活性剂的相互作用并阐明相互作用的重要性。用于评估这种相互作用的体外方法。最后，在适当的体外模型中使用了肺表面活性剂，以便获得对纳米颗粒在肺部环境中如何发挥作用的广泛了解。这篇综述的主要目的是就吸入的纳米颗粒及其与肺表面活性剂系统的相互作用所产生的对肺的结构和功能的影响提供一般性的看法。