E-Cigarette Aerosol Deposition and Disposition of [C-11]Nicotine Using Positron Emission Tomography : A Comparison of Nicotine Uptake in Lungs and Brain Using Two Different Nicotine Formulations

Smoking is a cause of serious disease in smokers. Electronic cigarettes, delivering aerosolized nicotine, offer adult smokers a potentially less harmful alternative to combustible cigarettes. This explorative PET/CT study investigated the distribution and deposition of inhaled [C-11]nicotine using the myblu (TM) e-cigarette with two nicotine formulations, freebase and lactate salt. Fifteen healthy adult smokers participated in the two-part study to assess the distribution and accumulation of [C-11]nicotine in the respiratory pathways and brain. Time-activity data for the respiratory pathways, lungs, oesophagus and brain were derived. 31-36% of both inhaled tracer formulations accumulated in the lung within 15-35 s. [C-11]Nicotine(freebase) exhibited higher uptake and deposition in the upper respiratory pathways. For [C-11]nicotine(lactate), brain deposition peaked at 4-5%, with an earlier peak and a steeper decline. A different kinetic profile was obtained for [C-11]nicotine(lactate) with lower tracer uptake and accumulation in the upper respiratory pathways and an earlier peak and a steeper decline in lung and brain. Using nicotine lactate formulations in e-cigarettes may thus contribute to greater adult smoker acceptance and satisfaction compared to freebase formulations, potentially aiding a transition from combustible cigarettes and an acceleration of tobacco harm reduction initiatives