Particle retention and clearance is a major concern in the treatment of pulmonary diseases. Inhaled materials into the nasal and lung airways include gases/vapors, liquid droplets and soluble/insoluble particulate matter which can be toxic or therapeutic (or both). For example, nanoparticles (NPs), as part of nanomedicine, are now being used as drug carriers for passive and active targeting of solid tumors and inflamed tissue. However, natural and especially manmade NPs can also be harmful, such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs), asbestos fibers and ambient toxic pollutants, based on epidemiological and pathological studies of occupational and environmental exposures. In fact, ultrafine particles...