In patients with emphysema, the deposition fraction showed a strong correlation with diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide.

A lower deposition fraction of nanoparticles was seen in the distal lung in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) than in healthy individuals during a breath-hold, according to a study published in BMC Pulmonology Medicine.

Researchers contended that this can be explained by the enlarged distal airspaces associated with emphysema and indicates that lung morphology significantly influences the deposition of nanoparticles.