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Intranasal Therapeutic Strategies for Mitigation of Airborne Microplastic and Nanoplastic Exposure
Summary
Scientists are finding tiny plastic particles in our brains after we breathe them in through our noses, and these particles may cause inflammation and damage. Researchers are now proposing a nasal spray treatment that could protect our nose and clear out these harmful particles before they reach our brain. This early-stage idea could eventually help protect our health from air pollution, but more research is needed to see if it actually works and is safe.
Airborne microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) are increasingly recognized as an important route of environmental exposure. Recent studies have identified microplastics within the human olfactory bulb and have demonstrated associations between environmental particulate exposure, inflammation, oxidative stress, and neurological injury. These findings suggest that the nasal cavity may represent an important site for therapeutic intervention. This Technical Note outlines a proposed intranasal therapeutic platform designed to support nasal mucosal health while mitigating biological interactions associated with inhaled environmental particles. The platform is intended to provide a flexible foundation for future pharmaceutical development through local anti-inflammatory effects, mucosal protection, barrier formation, particle interaction, and enhancement of mucociliary clearance. Additional studies will be required to evaluate safety, mechanism of action, and clinical utility.