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Enzyme-functionalized electrochemical sensor for unified quantification of multiple bioabsorbable nanoplastic types in human urine
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Scientists have developed a new sensor that can detect and measure tiny plastic particles (nanoplastics) in human urine for the first time, using an enzyme that reacts specifically to these particles. This matters because we're increasingly exposed to nanoplastics from food, water, and everyday products, but until now there was no reliable way to measure how much ends up in our bodies. When tested on human urine samples, the sensor found nanoplastics were present and consistently detectable, giving researchers a practical new tool to start tracking human exposure and, eventually, study potential health effects.
Nanoplastics pose emerging health risk, yet no existing analytical method can quantitatively detect sub‑300 nm nanoplastics in human urine, mainly due to insufficient sensitivity and polymer-dependent limitations. Here, we report a catalase (CAT)‑based electrochemical sensing platform that enables the first quantitative detection of sub‑300 nm nanoplastics in human urine. The sensor leverages a nanoplastic‑induced structural perturbation mechanism, in which hydrophobic‑dominant and electrostatic‑synergistic interactions between nanoplastics and catalase enhance enzymatic activity and generate an amplified electrochemical signal. This mechanism provides unified detection across multiple polymer types and sizes, overcoming the material‑specific limitations of existing analytical approaches. The platform achieves ng·L¹‑level sensitivity, with a detection limit of 28 ng·L and a linear range of 150-1500 ng·L, and requires only a simple centrifugation-filtration pretreatment compatible with routine urine analysis. Application to human urine yielded a total nanoplastic concentration of ~ 1.5 µg·L⁻¹ (RSD 4.4%), demonstrating reliable quantification with low inter‑sample variability. This platform offers a higher sensitivity, polymer-agnostic, and operationally simple approach for biological nanoplastic monitoring.
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Electrochemical capture and size-dependent sensing of polystyrene nanoplastics
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Scientists have created a fast, low-cost sensor that can detect tiny plastic particles, called nanoplastics, in drinking water, even ones too small for most current tests to catch. This matters because these ultra-tiny plastic fragments are small enough to slip into our cells and organs, and until now, checking water for them required expensive lab equipment and a lot of time. This new tool could make it much easier to routinely monitor drinking water for plastic contamination, bringing us closer to understanding and reducing our exposure to these particles.
First study on the toxicokinetic approach of MNPs in an environmentally exposed human population, through their evaluation in blood and urine samples by Pyr-GC-MS and multivariate analysis.
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Scientists tested 98 people's blood and urine and found tiny plastic particles (microplastics and nanoplastics) in nearly everyone—showing up in 98% of urine samples and 89% of blood samples. This confirms that plastic exposure is essentially universal in daily life, and the study suggests urine could become a simple, non-invasive way for doctors and researchers to track how much plastic we're absorbing from our environment.
An Electrochemical Biosensing Approach for Detection of Microplastic Beads
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Researchers developed an electrochemical enzyme-based biosensor to detect microplastic beads across a range of sizes in water, providing a simpler and lower-cost detection approach than conventional spectroscopic methods for environmental and public health monitoring.
Optimisation and Validation of a Quantitative Method for the Analysis of Polymers of Nanoplastics in Human Faeces
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Scientists have developed a new lab method that can accurately detect and measure super-tiny plastic particles (nanoplastics, even smaller than microplastics) in human poop for the first time. This matters because until now, researchers haven't had a reliable way to measure these ultra-small plastic bits in our bodies, making it hard to study how much plastic we're actually absorbing and whether it's harming our health. This method is a key first step—it doesn't tell us about health risks yet, but it gives scientists the tool they need to start finding out.
Quantifying micro- and nanoplastics in blood, urine, and soft tissues using optimized cascaded microfiltration and pyrolysis-GC/MS for exposomic investigations
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Scientists developed a more precise way to detect and measure tiny plastic particles (microplastics and even smaller nanoplastics) in blood and body tissues, then used it to confirm these particles are present in human blood, with a typical amount around 0.8 micrograms per milliliter. This matters because it gives researchers a more reliable tool to track how much plastic is building up in our bodies over time—an important first step before scientists can figure out what health effects, if any, this exposure might cause.
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