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Gold-labelled nanoplastics models: Synthesis, detection, and quantification by SP-ICP-MS in Daphnia magna
Summary
Scientists have developed a clever new tool to track tiny plastic particles (nanoplastics) inside living organisms by attaching a microscopic gold marker to them, making even trace amounts detectable and measurable. Using this method on water fleas, they showed the tiny creatures absorbed more plastic the more they were exposed to, confirming these particles build up in the body over time. While this study was done in a small aquatic organism rather than humans, it's an important step toward better understanding how nanoplastics—found throughout our environment and food—accumulate in living things, which is crucial groundwork for future research into their health effects on people.
The detection and quantification of nanoplastics (NPLs) in complex matrices remain a major analytical challenge. In this study, gold-labelled NPLs consisting of a gold nanoparticle core covered by a polystyrene (PS) shell were designed, enabling sensitive quantification by single-particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (SP-ICP-MS). Optimized conditions yielded NPLs containing one single gold nanoparticle per NPL and exhibiting surface functionalization. These NPLs fulfill key criteria for realistic NPLs models, combining: the use of an environmentally relevant polymer (PS), the exact control over their chemical composition, a density comparable to that of native PS particles despite gold-labelling, and a strong traceability. The strategy applied here demonstrates unprecedented sensitivity , with a limit of detection of 2.8 ×10 5 NPL L⁻¹ (0.21 ng of NPLs) , enabling detection of environmentally realistic concentrations. The method validation performed with NPLs-spiked Daphnia magna achieved recovery rates close to 100%. Exposure experiments revealed a dose-dependent increase in the body burden of NPLs, up to 8.5 ×10 5 particles/daphnid (64 ng of NPLs) after 48 h. This study combines gold-labelling, precise chemical control, and environmental relevance to enable accurate NPLs quantification in organisms at low, realistic concentrations, paving the way for robust ecotoxicological assessments.