• In 19 authoritative chapters, this handbook
• addresses standard, novel, and controversial issues and alternative views of surfactant function
• supplies comprehensive listings of references through 2004
• discusses methods used to determine the molecular dynamics and nanoscale, supramolecular, and single-molecular organization of membranous systems as applied to the lung surfactnat
• contains diverse experimental protocols of methods such as NMR, AFM, TOF-SIMS, mass spectrometry, single-channel recording, computer modeling, genetic-knockout, and colloidal and surface analysis
• describes the structure-function relationship of the lung surfactant in normal and disease or (dys)functional states
• comprehensively assesses techniques for the study of membranes, surfactant and bio-colloidal surfaces and interfaces including Langmuir-Blodgett films, bubble imaging, atomic force microscopy, TOF-SIMS, and Raman and FTIR spectroscopy
• studies the physiology and pathology of molecular mechanisms at the lung gas-water interface

The only source to describe the lung surfactant as a complex membranous system, this guide analyzes lung surfactant function from the aspects of molecular biology, biophysics, membrane science, and surface and interface analysis and reviews the latest basic and clinical issues relating to lung disease and (dys)function.