We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Image cytometry of irregular microplastic particles in a cross-slot microchannel utilizing viscoelastic focusing
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers applied microfluidic viscoelastic focusing technology to precisely measure the size and shape of irregular microplastic fragments in water, addressing a key challenge in environmental monitoring where conventional optical methods struggle with tilted or clumped particles.
Microplastic particles have recently attracted much attention owing to their potential adverse effects on marine and terrestrial environments. Although several studies have been conducted on this topic, one of the prominent existing challenges is developing analytical methods to precisely characterize isolated microplastics. Specifically, a systematic method that determines both the size and shape of irregular micron-sized particles is required because conventional optical methods provide only two-dimensional images of microplastics and cannot easily handle cases of tilting or aggregation of particles. In this study, we demonstrate that previously developed microfluidic technologies can be successfully applied to measure the size and shape of oblate microparticles utilizing viscoelastic particle focusing. Furthermore, this technique is also applicable for irregular microplastic fragments that are predominantly found in environmental samples.
More Papers Like This
Role of Flow Cytometry in the Analysis of Micro/Nano Plastics
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers reviewed how flow cytometry — a technique that uses light beams to rapidly analyze individual particles — can be adapted to identify and count microplastic and nanoplastic particles, potentially offering a faster and more automated approach to pollution monitoring.
Identification and Characterization Methods for Microplastics Basing on Spatial Imaging in Micro-/Nanoscales
AI summary Read the abstract
This review evaluates spatial imaging techniques at micro- and nanoscales — including Raman spectroscopy, FTIR, and electron microscopy — for identifying and characterizing microplastics in environmental samples. Advancing detection and characterization methods is foundational to understanding microplastic bioavailability and their capacity to adsorb toxic chemicals that harm living organisms.
Characterization of microfluidic trap and mixer module for rapid fluorescent tagging of microplastics
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers developed a microfluidic lab-on-a-chip device that can simultaneously trap and fluorescently label different types of microplastics within 15 minutes, using much smaller sample volumes than conventional methods. This tool could improve the speed and efficiency of microplastic detection and monitoring in water samples.
CAN WE SEE SMALLER? QUANTIFYING less than 100 MICRON MICROPLASTICS WITH PHOTOMICROGRAPHS
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers developed a double-dye optical microscopy technique combining Nile Red and a non-polar UV dye to detect and quantify microplastic particles smaller than 100 microns, a size class often missed in standard analyses. The second dye improved detection of previously elusive materials like PVC and rubber tire particles, though practical limitations remain for routine application.
Aggregate-then-concentrate microfluidics for rapid detection of nanoplastics and submicroplastics
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists have developed a faster, simpler way to detect nanoplastics, tiny plastic particles so small they can pass through biological barriers in our bodies, like the gut lining or even the blood-brain barrier. By clumping these particles together first before running them through a specialized filtering chip, the new method captured over 90% of nanoplastics in test samples, including polluted seawater. This matters because better detection tools could help researchers more easily study how much of this invisible plastic pollution ends up in our environment and, potentially, in us.
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.