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Inhaled Microplastics and Nanoplastics: Brain Exposure via the Olfactory Pathway and Emerging Therapeutic Opportunities
Summary
Researchers reviewed how inhaled airborne microplastics and nanoplastics can translocate from the nasal cavity directly to the brain via the olfactory pathway, and outlined potential therapeutic strategies — including nasal sequestration agents, lung-targeted approaches, and lipid nanoparticle drug delivery — to complement physical barriers in high-exposure settings.
Airborne microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) represent a significant but underappreciated inhalation exposure route, particularly in occupational settings such as plastic manufacturing, textile production, waste recycling, 3D printing, and polluted urban environments. Chronic exposure may contribute to respiratory inflammation, oxidative stress, and systemic translocation of particulate matter. Recent evidence identifying microplastics in the human olfactory bulb suggests a direct pathway from the nasal cavity to the brain. While masks, ventilation, and filtration remain important first-line defenses, they may be insufficient for chronic low-level exposure, incomplete nanoparticle capture, or already-deposited particles. This perspective outlines emerging therapeutic opportunities beyond physical barriers, including nasal sequestration systems, lung-targeted mitigation approaches, and brain-protective lipid nanoparticle (LNP) therapeutics under the Cythera Bio platform. These strategies may help reduce both particulate burden and downstream inflammatory consequences.