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Review
. 2022 Mar 23:13:20417314221083414.
doi: 10.1177/20417314221083414. eCollection 2022 Jan-Dec.

Restoration of olfactory dysfunctions by nanomaterials and stem cells-based therapies: Current status and future perspectives

Shin Hyuk Yoo  1   2 , Hae-Won Kim  2   3   4   5 , Jun Hee Lee  2   5   6   7
Affiliations
Review

Restoration of olfactory dysfunctions by nanomaterials and stem cells-based therapies: Current status and future perspectives

Shin Hyuk Yoo et al. J Tissue Eng. .

Abstract

Dysfunction in the olfactory system of a person can have adverse effects on their health and quality of life. It can even increase mortality among individuals. Olfactory dysfunction is related to many factors, including post-viral upper respiratory infection, head trauma, and neurodegenerative disorders. Although some clinical therapies such as steroids and olfactory training are already available, their effectiveness is limited and controversial. Recent research in the field of therapeutic nanoparticles and stem cells has shown the regeneration of dysfunctional olfactory systems. Thus, we are motivated to highlight these regenerative approaches. For this, we first introduce the anatomical characteristics of the olfactory pathway, then detail various pathological factors related to olfactory dysfunctions and current treatments, and then finally discuss the recent regenerative endeavors, with particular focus on nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems and stem cells. This review offers insights into the development of future therapeutic approaches to restore and regenerate dysfunctional olfactory systems.

Keywords: Olfactory dysfunction; nanoparticles; regeneration; stem cells.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of conflicting interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Anatomy of the olfactory system, and the tissue structure and cells comprising of.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
(a) Schematic illustrating the mucoadhesive and mucus-penetrating strategy with developed nanoparticles. Mucoadhesive nanoparticles (b) are good at catching the surface of mucous membrane whereas the mucus-penetrating nanoparticles (c) transport more effectively through the mucus layer.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Exemplar studies on the development of mucoadhesive or mucus-penetrating nanoparticles. (a) Mucoadhesive nanoparticles based on chitosan-coating for binding to negative-charged mucus layer. (b) Mucoadhesive nanoparticles based on phenylboronic acid-rich nanoparticles (PBNP) for adhesion to mucin and mucin-controlled drug release. (c) Mucus-penetrating nanoparticles by low molecular weight PEG coating. (d) Mucus-penetrating nanoparticles based on NAC-coating by reducing mucus viscosity.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Application of stem cell transplantation in olfactory dysfunction and the regenerative effects of cell-based therapeutics. AD-MSCs: adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells; BDNF: brain-derived neurotrophic factor; BM-MSCs: bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells; NGF: nerve growth factor; NSCs: neural stem cells; OE: olfactory epithelium; OECs: olfactory ensheathing cells; OMP: olfactory marker protein; TGF-β1: transforming growth factor beta 1.
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