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Covalently labeled fluorescence-MRI dual-modal polystyrene microspheres for imaging and analysis of microplastics in biological systems.
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Scientists have created a new type of tiny plastic particle that glows under fluorescent light and shows up on MRI scans, allowing researchers to track exactly where microplastics travel in the body. In tests with zebrafish and mice, these specially labeled particles stayed stable and trackable without leaking harmful dye or metal, giving scientists a reliable new tool to study how microplastics move through living tissue and what health risks they might pose. This isn't a finding about microplastics' dangers directly—it's a new tracking method that will help future research answer that question more precisely.
The widespread accumulation of microplastics (MPs) in the environment and their transfer along food chains pose growing threats to organism health, but MPs' behaviours remain poorly understood due to the lack of stable and sensitive imaging tools. Herein, we report a robust covalent-labelling strategy for constructing dual-modal polystyrene microspheres (Fl-MRIPSs) for fluorescent and magnetic imaging in biological samples. Two polymerizable functional monomers-a rhodamine dye (RhSt) for fluorescence imaging and a gadolinium complex (DOTASt) for -weighted MRI-were rationally designed and chemically incorporated into the polystyrene matrix emulsion copolymerization. The resulting Fl-MRIPSs exhibit precise size control, uniform morphology, excellent monodispersity, and high colloidal stability. The covalent anchoring minimizes dye and Gd leakage while maintaining high fluorescence quantum yield, remarkable photostability, and strong MRI relaxivity. The Fl-MRIPSs show efficient cellular internalization with negligible cytotoxicity, enable high-contrast fluorescence visualization in zebrafish and mice, and provide significantly enhanced -weighted MRI contrast in mouse subcutaneous tissue. This work establishes a generalizable, chemically stable dual-modal labelling platform for MPs, offering a powerful tool for elucidating their transport, biodistribution, and potential health risks in living organisms.
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Bifunctional nanoprobes for improved biological tracking of nanoplastics
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Scientists have created a new tool that both lights up and precisely measures tiny plastic particles inside living things, tested on cells and even zebrafish offspring. This matters because it helps researchers track exactly how much nanoplastic gets into bodies and where it travels, a key step toward understanding how these particles might affect our health.
MRI-based microplastic tracking in vivo and targeted toxicity analysis
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Researchers developed a new MRI-based method to track microplastics inside living mice over 21 days. They found that the liver was the primary organ where polystyrene microplastics accumulated, and this accumulation led to liver cell death, inflammation, and changes in enzyme levels. This tracking technique could help scientists better understand how microplastics move through and affect biological systems.
Near-infrared (NIR-II) fluorescent poly(ethylene terephthalate) nano-microplastics for in vivo tracking
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Researchers developed a new method to track nano-microplastics inside living animals in real time using near-infrared fluorescent imaging. By embedding a special dye into common PET plastic particles, they were able to follow the particles through mice after oral exposure, offering a promising tool for studying how plastics of different sizes behave inside the body.
Noncovalent radiolabeling of microplastics using a desferrioxamine-conjugated Nile Red derivative for quantitative in vivo tracking
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Researchers developed a new method for tracking microplastics in living organisms using a specialized dye that attaches to plastic surfaces without altering their properties, enabling both fluorescence imaging and radioactive labeling. The technique allowed quantitative tracking of microplastic movement through the gastrointestinal tract of mice using PET imaging, providing a tool for better understanding how microplastics behave in the body.
Synthesis of near-infrared-fluorophore-loaded microplastics with different compositions for in vivo tracking
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Researchers synthesised fluorescent microplastic particles of different polymer types that can be tracked inside living animals using near-infrared imaging, creating a tool for studying how microplastics move through and accumulate within biological tissues. These model particles help researchers understand real-world microplastic behaviour inside organisms, which is critical for assessing health risks.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.