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Nanoplastic Labelling with Metal Probes: Analytical Strategies for Their Sensitive Detection and Quantification by ICP Mass Spectrometry
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Researchers developed metal probe labelling strategies to enable sensitive detection and quantification of nanoplastics by ICP mass spectrometry, overcoming the challenge that nanoplastics are too small and carbon-rich for conventional analytical techniques to distinguish.
The detection and quantification of nanoplastics in aquatic environments is one of the major challenges in environmental and analytical research nowadays. The use of common analytical techniques for this purpose is not only hampered by the size of nanoplastics, but also because they are mainly made of carbon. In addition, the expected concentrations in environmental samples are below the detection limit of the majority of analytical techniques. In this context, the great detection capabilities of Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) in its Single Particle mode (SP-ICP-MS) have made of this technique a good candidate for the analysis of nanoplastics. Since the monitoring of carbon by ICP-MS faces several difficulties, the use of metal tags, taking advantage of the great potential of nanoplastics to adsorb chemical compounds, has been proposed as an alternative. In this perspectives paper, three different strategies for the analysis of polystyrene (PS) nanoplastics by SP-ICP-MS based on the use of metals species (ions, hydrophobic organometallic compound, and nanoparticles) as tags are presented and discussed. Advantages and disadvantages of each strategy, which rely on the labelling process, are highlighted. The metal nanoparticles labelling strategy is shown as a promising tool for the detection and quantification of nanoplastics in aqueous matrices by SP-ICP-MS.
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From the synthesis of labeled nanoplastic model materials (isotopic and metallic) to their use in ecotoxicological studies with the detection and quantification analytical methods.
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Researchers synthesized isotopically and metallically labeled nanoplastic model materials to enable tracking and quantification of plastic nanoparticles in complex biological and environmental matrices at trace concentrations. The labeled models supported mechanistic studies of nanoplastic fate and exposure by allowing detection at environmentally relevant concentrations not achievable with conventional unlabeled particles.
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