We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
In Situ Identification and Spatial Mapping of Microplastic Standards in Paramecia by Secondary-Ion Mass Spectrometry Imaging
Summary
Researchers used secondary-ion mass spectrometry imaging to identify and spatially map microplastic particles inside paramecia, demonstrating that the technique can localize specific polymer types within unicellular organisms at subcellular resolution, offering a new tool for studying how microplastics interact with cell structures.
Microplastics (MPs) are universally present in the ecosystem and pose great threats to the environment and living organisms. Research studies have shown that small MPs (<50 μm in diameter) are especially toxic and account for more than half of all MPs collected in the Atlantic Ocean. Nevertheless, current methods for the detection and analysis of MPs are incapable of achieving rapid and in situ analysis of small MPs in the biota to ultimately enable the study of their biological effects. In this work, we report a method that allows rapid in situ identification and spatial mapping of small MPs directly from paramecia with high accuracy by acquiring chemical composition information using secondary-ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) imaging. Specifically, six types of common MPs (polymethyl methacrylate, polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyglycidyl methacrylate, and polyamide 6) with a diameter of 1-50 μm were simultaneously imaged with high chemical specificity at a spatial resolution of 700 nm. In situ spatial mapping of a group of MPs ingested by paramecia was performed using SIMS fragments specific to the plastic composition with no sample pretreatment, revealing the aggregation of MPs in paramecia after ingestion. Compared with existing methods, one additional advantage of the developed method is that the MPs and the organism can be analyzed in the same experimental workflow to record their fingerprint spectra, acquiring biochemical information to evaluate MP fate, toxicity, and the MP-biota interaction.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
In situ imaging of microplastics in living organisms based on mass spectrometry technology
Researchers reviewed mass spectrometry-based imaging techniques for detecting microplastics inside living organisms, comparing different ion source methods for their ability to visualize plastic particles in biological tissue. They found that these techniques can provide both spatial distribution maps and chemical composition analysis of microplastics at high resolution. The study suggests that mass spectrometry imaging could become a powerful tool for understanding how microplastics accumulate and distribute within living systems.
Mass spectrometry imaging enables detection of MPs and their effects in Daphnia magna following acute exposure
Researchers used an advanced imaging technique called mass spectrometry imaging to track where microplastics accumulate inside water fleas after short-term exposure. They found that the tiny organisms ingested microplastics that concentrated in their gut, and the exposure altered their lipid metabolism. The technique offers a new way to visualize exactly where microplastics end up in small aquatic organisms and what biochemical changes they cause.
Localisation and identification of polystyrene particles in tissue sections using Raman spectroscopic imaging
Researchers developed a Raman spectroscopic imaging method to localize and identify polystyrene microplastic particles directly within tissue sections, enabling in-situ detection without fluorescent labeling and making environmental sample analysis feasible.
Label-free stimulated Raman scattering imaging of intracellular microplastics in mammalian cells
Researchers used label-free stimulated Raman scattering imaging to visualize microplastic uptake and distribution inside mammalian cells without fluorescent labels, finding that intracellular microplastics were associated with elevated reactive oxygen species, reduced cell viability, and altered lipid metabolism.
Development of Water Cluster-Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry and Particle Induced X-ray Emission to Investigate Spatially Resolved Biological Responses to Nanopolystyrene in Zebrafish Larvae
Researchers developed advanced imaging techniques using water cluster-secondary ion mass spectrometry and particle-induced X-ray emission to study how nanoplastics interact with zebrafish larvae at the tissue level. They mapped the spatial distribution of elements and molecular changes in organs exposed to nanopolystyrene at environmentally realistic concentrations. The study provides new analytical methods for understanding how nanoplastics are taken up and distributed in living organisms, filling a critical gap in nanoplastic toxicology research.