# The effect of Inhaled Nicotine on Pulmonary Surfaces

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · 2020 · $62,939

## Abstract

Abstract
In the parent grant, we have proposed to study the effect of nicotine on pulmonary surfaces. That is, we have
proposed to look at the effects of nicotine on key components of innate defense relevant to the lung using a
variety of cell biological and biophysical techniques. We have subsequently requested a revision to the grant to
include human subjects so that we can also study the effects of nicotine on innate defense cells derived from
humans including neutrophils. In the interim however, we have identified a major knowledge gap, namely that
we do not fully appreciate the levels of nicotine that occur in vapers’ lungs during and after vaping. This is an
impediment to our research since we do not know which concentrations of nicotine to add to our in vitro
experiments. Thus, in this supplement, Dr. Abdelwahab will measure nicotine levels in vaped humans and mice
and will also perform pharmacokinetic studies of nicotine on pulmonary surfaces in vitro. These studies will be
important not only for our research but for other researchers in the field since the knowledge does not exist.
Deciding how to perform the pharmacokinetics will be an iterative process and Dr. Abdelwahab will have
intellectual input into how and when to collect nicotine. He will also decide how to measure nicotine using mass
spectrometry-type approaches and will design the experiments to determine how long nicotine stays around on
airway surfaces. These studies will enable Dr. Abdelwahab to develop independent as a scientist since they will
allow him to design and execute important experiments that will be of international interest. Moreover, should
these experiments be successful, it is also fully expected that he will have the opportunity to present these data
at national and international meetings and to write them up for publication in peer-reviewed journals.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10083514
- **Project number:** 3R01HL135642-04S2
- **Recipient organization:** UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL
- **Principal Investigator:** Mehmet Kesimer
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $62,939
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2020-07-06 → 2021-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10083514

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10083514, The effect of Inhaled Nicotine on Pulmonary Surfaces (3R01HL135642-04S2). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10083514. Licensed CC0.

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