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Luminous Upconverted Nanoparticles as High-Sensitivity Optical Probes for Visualizing Nano- and Microplastics in Caenorhabditis elegans
Summary
Researchers used upconverted NaYF4:Yb3+/Er3+ nanoparticles as high-sensitivity optical probes to visualize the ingestion and biodistribution of polystyrene microplastics and nanoplastics in Caenorhabditis elegans in real time, overcoming autofluorescence limitations of conventional fluorescent probes.
With the increasing prevalence of plastic pollution, understanding its impact on soil nematodes is crucial for environmental sustainability and food security. Traditional fluorescence-based probes have the limitations of high background noise and interference from autofluorescence. In this study, the luminous upconverted NaYF4:Yb3+/Er3+ nanoparticles acted as high-sensitivity probes for real-time visualization of ingestion and biodistribution of polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) and nanoplastics (PS-NPs) in Caenorhabditis elegans. The novel probes enabled efficient near-infrared-to-visible light conversion. This approach improved the precision of nano- and microplastic detection in biological tissues. Microscopic imaging revealed that the probes effectively distinguished size-dependent plastic distribution patterns, with microplastics remaining in the digestive tract, whereas nanoparticles penetrated intestinal walls and entered systemic circulation. Quantitative fluorescence analysis confirmed that PS-NPs exhibited higher bioavailability and deeper tissue penetration, providing crucial insights into plastic behavior at the organismal level. The different toxicities of PS-NPs and PS-MPs were further confirmed by measurement of the locomotor impairments and the physiological disruptions. These findings emphasize the broader applications of upconverted nanoparticles as advanced bio-imaging probes, offering a sensitive and non-invasive tool for tracking pollutant interactions in environmental and biological systems.
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