A New Approach for Detecting and Quantifying Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Water Using Fluorescence Labeling and Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis

In recent years, increasing concern has been raised about environmental pollution caused by micro- and nanoplastic particles. These pollutants are formed through the degradation of larger plastic objects and pose a significant threat to aquatic ecosystems, organisms, and potentially humans. Traditional detection approaches, including microscopic, spectroscopic, and chromatographic methods, suffer from several limitations. They often require expensive equipment, complex sample preparation procedures, and may lack sufficient accuracy when analyzing nanosized particles. This study focuses on the development of a methodology and experimental investigation of micro- and nanoplastic particles in water using fluorescent dyes. An experimental setup was developed to perform measurements via nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA). A comprehensive methodology for detecting micro- and nanoplastics was proposed, employing fluorescent dye Cy5 to ensure high selectivity and sensitivity. The method includes sample preparation, recording of Brownian motion trajectories, and calculation of hydrodynamic parameters. The developed methodology can be applied for pollution monitoring, studying nanoplastic translocation, and evaluating water treatment efficiency. The proposed approach opens new avenues for fundamental and applied research in environmental monitoring and risk assessment related to nanoplastics.