Papers

New versus naturally aged greenhouse cover films: Degradation and micro-nanoplastics characterization under sunlight exposure

Researchers compared how new and naturally aged greenhouse plastic films release nano and microplastic particles into water under simulated sunlight. Aged films released significantly more particles than new films, even without additional UV exposure, showing that years of use in the field make plastics much more prone to shedding tiny fragments. This is relevant to food safety because greenhouse films are widely used in agriculture, and the particles they shed can contaminate soil and crops.

Emergence of Nanoplastic in the Environment and Possible Impact on Human Health

This review examines how plastic materials fragment into nanoplastics and potentially accumulate in the environment, with a focus on their possible impacts on human health. Researchers discuss how these tiny particles can enter the human body through ingestion, inhalation, and skin contact, and describe how they interact with cells at the molecular level. The study highlights that nanoplastics behave very differently from larger plastics due to their size and surface properties, raising concerns that warrant further investigation.

The Effect of Substrate Properties on Cellular Behavior and Nanoparticle Uptake in Human Fibroblasts and Epithelial Cells

Researchers found that the physical properties of the surface cells grow on significantly affects how they take up nanoparticles, with lung fibroblast cells on soft, flexible surfaces absorbing over three times more silica nanoparticles than cells on rigid surfaces. This finding is important for understanding microplastic health effects because it suggests that nanoparticle uptake in the body depends on the tissue environment, not just the particles themselves. Cells in soft tissues like the lungs may be more vulnerable to nanoplastic absorption than lab tests on rigid surfaces would predict.

Preparation of Well-Defined Fluorescent Nanoplastic Particles by Confined Impinging Jet Mixing

Researchers developed a simple and reproducible method for producing well-defined fluorescent nanoplastic particles using a technique called confined impinging jet mixing. The method can create particles from different polymer types with controllable sizes and built-in fluorescent labels for easy tracking in experiments. These standardized reference materials are valuable for researchers studying how nanoplastics behave in the environment and interact with living organisms.

Correlative Light, Electron Microscopy and Raman Spectroscopy Workflow To Detect and Observe Microplastic Interactions with Whole Jellyfish

Researchers developed a correlative workflow combining light microscopy, electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy to detect and observe microplastic interactions with whole Cassiopea andromeda jellyfish. The study demonstrated that juvenile jellyfish interact with polyethylene terephthalate and polypropylene microplastics, and the multi-technique analytical approach enabled detailed visualization of how these particles associate with jellyfish tissue.

A novel 3D intestine barrier model to study the immune response upon exposure to microplastics

Scientists developed a three-dimensional in vitro intestinal model using human epithelial cell lines (Caco-2 and HT-29) to study the immune response to ingested microplastics, finding that microplastics induced inflammatory cytokine release and altered barrier integrity in a dose-dependent manner.

The micro-, submicron-, and nanoplastic hunt: A review of detection methods for plastic particles

This review systematically summarizes detection and characterization methods for micro-, submicron-, and nanoplastics, providing recommendations for method validation, standardization, and analytical pathways suited to different sample types and research goals.

P22-19 Exploring Raman spectroscopy for probing early cellular responses to nanoplastic exposure

Detection of Sub-Micro- and Nanoplastic Particles on Gold Nanoparticle-Based Substrates through Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) Spectroscopy

Gold nanoparticle-based SERS substrates were used to detect sub-micro and nanoplastic particles including polystyrene, PET, and PVC, demonstrating that this technique can identify plastic particles below the size threshold of conventional Raman microscopy.

pKa predictions for arsonic acid derivatives.

This study used computational methods to predict pKa values for a series of arsonic acid derivatives, providing thermodynamic data relevant to understanding the environmental behavior of these organoarsenic compounds. The predictions were validated against available experimental values.

Submicron- and nanoplastic detection at low micro- to nanogram concentrations using gold nanostar-based surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates

This study developed gold nanostar-based surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates capable of detecting submicron- and nanoplastic particles at very low concentrations (micro- to nanogram per liter), filling a gap in analytical methods for the smallest plastic particles in complex matrices such as food and marine waters.

Detection of submicron- and nanoplastics spiked in environmental fresh- and saltwater with Raman spectroscopy

Raman spectroscopy was evaluated for detecting submicron- and nanoplastic particles spiked into both fresh and saltwater samples, assessing the method's sensitivity and reliability across a range of polymer types in complex environmental matrices.

Dataset: Correlative Light, Electron Microscopy and Raman Spectroscopy Workflow to Detect and Observe Microplastic Interactions with Whole Jellyfish

Researchers developed a correlative microscopy and Raman spectroscopy workflow to detect fluorescent PET and polypropylene microplastics in whole jellyfish (Cassiopea andromeda), finding that microplastic interaction with medusae was primarily driven by particle properties such as density and hydrophobicity.

Mid-IR hyperspectral imaging with undetected photons

This is not a microplastics research paper; it is an optics study presenting a proof-of-concept mid-infrared hyperspectral imaging instrument using nonlinear quantum interferometry, intended for environmental monitoring and biomedical diagnostics, without specific application to microplastic detection.

Deconvoluting the Optical Response of Biocompatible Photonic Pigments

Researchers developed biocompatible photonic pigments from bottlebrush block copolymers using an inverse photonic glass architecture, demonstrating that this design overcomes refractive index limitations to produce strong structural color, while offering a more environmentally responsible alternative to conventional microplastic-based pigments.

Dataset: Correlative Light, Electron Microscopy and Raman Spectroscopy Workflow to Detect and Observe Microplastic Interactions with Whole Jellyfish

Researchers developed a correlative microscopy and Raman spectroscopy workflow to detect fluorescent PET and polypropylene microplastics in whole jellyfish (Cassiopea andromeda), finding that microplastic interaction with medusae was primarily driven by particle properties such as density and hydrophobicity.

The Next 100 Years of Polymer Science

This review reflects on 100 years of polymer science since Hermann Staudinger's foundational work on polymerization, examining how synthetic polymers have transformed modern society and exploring future directions for the field.

Improvement of the Mechanical Characteristics, Hydrogen Crack Resistance and Durability of Turbine Rotor Steels Welded Joints

Researchers developed improved welding techniques for turbine rotor steels, using thermal simulation modeling to optimize welding parameters and achieve welded joints with enhanced mechanical characteristics, improved hydrogen crack resistance, and greater durability.

Solvothermal Synthesis Combined with Design of Experiments—Optimization Approach for Magnetite Nanocrystal Clusters

Researchers optimized the synthesis of magnetite nanocrystal clusters — tiny magnetic particles with potential uses in water purification and pollution cleanup. Magnetic nanoparticles are being explored as a tool for removing microplastics from water by attracting plastic particles for separation.

Assessing meso- and microplastic pollution in the Ligurian and Tyrrhenian Seas

Fluorescent plastic nanoparticles to track their interaction and fate in physiological environments

This study developed fluorescently labeled plastic nanoparticles made from PET, polypropylene, and polystyrene that can be tracked in biological environments to study how nanoplastics are taken up and processed by living organisms. Having trackable model nanoplastics is an important tool for understanding how these particles move through tissues and food chains.

Interlaboratory comparison of an intestinal triple culture to confirm transferability and reproducibility

Researchers conducted an interlaboratory comparison study to verify that a triple-culture intestinal model — a lab system using three cell types to mimic the human gut — produces consistent, reproducible results across different research facilities. Confirming transferability of this model is important for standardizing how scientists test the effects of contaminants like microplastics on human digestive tissue.

Unifying Atoms and Colloids near the Glass Transition through Bond-Order Topology

Researchers conducted a combined experimental and simulation study using bond-order topology to match particle volume fraction in colloidal suspensions with temperature in atomic systems, investigating structural behaviour near the glass transition.

Spatial and temporal analysis of meso- and microplastic pollution in the Ligurian and Tyrrhenian Seas

This study measured meso- and microplastic abundances in the Ligurian and Tyrrhenian Seas during 2019 sampling campaigns and compared results to 2018 data, finding significant spatial and temporal variation. Year-to-year variability in microplastic concentrations in the Mediterranean highlights the need for long-term systematic monitoring to track pollution trends.