We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Exploring the Ultralow Limit of Detection for Aromatic/Hydrophobic Nanoplastics with Ultrasmall Size Enables an LSPR Optical Microfiber
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers developed an advanced optical microfiber sensor capable of detecting nanoplastics at ultra-low concentrations, significantly surpassing the sensitivity of existing detection methods. The sensor uses localized surface plasmon resonance to identify aromatic and hydrophobic nanoplastic particles of extremely small sizes. The technology could enable early environmental monitoring of nanoplastic contamination in real-world water samples where current methods fall short.
The pervasive invasion of small-sized environmental nanoplastics into organisms can cause long-term toxicity to cells and tissues. Operando monitoring of these contaminants is therefore critical for early environmental warning. Although current state-of-the-art techniques can be applied to detect small-sized nanoplastics, their limits of detection (LOD) cannot meet the requirements of sensing applications in real-world samples. Herein, we propose an optical multimode microfiber coupled with an excited localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) enhancement effect, which can realize the ultrasensitive detection of 30 nm polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) nanoplastics with LOD results of 3.26 × 10-12 mg/mL, 7.71 × 10-12 mg/mL, and 7.34 × 10-14 mg/mL, respectively. The results are 1∼3 orders of magnitude lower than those of existing state-of-the-art methods. The optical fiber sensor can also detect three aromatic/hydrophobic nanoplastics well in real, complicated environmental water samples. Thus, this work establishes a novel framework for detecting a class of aromatic/hydrophobic nanoplastics with ultrasmall sizes.
More Papers Like This
A Highly Sensitive SERS Substrate for Detection of Nanoplastics in Water
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers developed a highly sensitive SERS-based substrate for detecting nanoplastic particles in water at very low concentrations. Improved detection tools for nanoplastics are essential for monitoring their presence in drinking water and understanding exposure risks to human health.
3P-372 : Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance Study to Detect Microplastics
AI summary Read the abstract
A gold nanoparticle-based localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) system was developed to detect microplastics in water samples using a simple sampling and measurement format. The detection mechanism relies on specific binding of microplastic particles to the nanoparticle surface, causing a measurable shift in the LSPR signal.
Fiber laser-backscattered optofluidic sensor for ultrasensitive and wide-range nanoplastic quantification
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists have developed a highly sensitive laser-based sensor that can detect tiny plastic particles (as small as 20 nanometers—much smaller than a virus) in water, even at very low concentrations. This matters because nanoplastics are increasingly showing up in our water, food, and even our bodies, but until now they've been hard to detect and measure accurately. This new tool could enable on-site, real-time monitoring of nanoplastic pollution, helping researchers and regulators better understand and address potential health risks from plastic contamination in our environment.
Optical sensing of microplastics using advanced nanomaterials: a comprehensive review.
AI summary Read the abstract
Microplastics are tiny plastic particles found almost everywhere, and scientists still struggle to detect them accurately. This review summarizes new detection methods that use special nanomaterials paired with light-based techniques to spot microplastics faster and more precisely. While promising, these tools still need more real-world testing before they can reliably assess microplastic risks to our health.
Fiber Laser-Backscattered Optofluidic Sensor for Ultrasensitive and Wide-Range Nanoplastic Quantification
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists have developed a new laser-based sensor that can detect and measure tiny plastic particles called nanoplastics in water, even at extremely low concentrations. This matters because nanoplastics are too small to see and hard to detect with current tools, but they may end up in our drinking water and food—this device could enable faster, on-site testing to monitor contamination levels. While the tool shows promise in real water samples, more research is needed to understand what levels of nanoplastic exposure actually mean for human health.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.