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Papers
61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to A sonication-assisted method for the production of true-to-life nanoplastics from polymeric materials
ClearA reliable procedure to obtain environmentally relevant nanoplastic proxies
Researchers developed a reliable procedure for producing nanoplastic proxies with properties more representative of environmentally aged nanoplastics, addressing the urgent need for better reference materials in nanoplastic fate, transport, and toxicology research.
Preparation of environmentally relevant nanoplastics (e-NPs), benefit for fate, behavior and ecotoxicology studies
Researchers developed a method to produce environmentally relevant model nanoplastics by extracting particles from weathered plastic debris collected from the North Pacific garbage patch through agitation, sonication, and sequential filtration. The resulting nanoplastics were characterized using pyrolysis-GCMS, ATR-FTIR, and potentiometric titrations, showing mainly anisotropic particle shapes with surface properties closer to real environmental nanoplastics than commercial polystyrene beads.
An improved method to generate secondary nanoplastics and oligomers: application in ecotoxicology
Researchers developed an improved laboratory method to generate secondary nanoplastics and oligomers under environmentally representative conditions, and found that the produced materials caused measurable physiological changes in the microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii at environmentally relevant concentrations. The method advances ecotoxicological research by enabling more realistic testing of nanoplastic breakdown products.
Evaluating the Effects of Micro- and Nanoplastics Using True-to-life Materials
This study evaluated the toxicological effects of micro- and nanoplastics using true-to-life environmental materials rather than idealized laboratory particles, aiming to develop more ecologically relevant assessment methods. The use of real-world particles revealed different toxicity profiles compared to commercial reference materials, highlighting the importance of material realism in exposure studies.
Surfactant-free synthesis of polyethylene nanoparticles: toward more realistic model nanoplastics
Researchers developed a surfactant-free aqueous emulsion polymerization method to synthesize polyethylene nanoparticles (50–200 nm) as more realistic model nanoplastics for laboratory studies. Unlike surfactant-stabilized models, these particles better mimic the physicochemical properties of environmental nanoplastics.
Synthesis of model polyethylene particles for the study of nanoplastics in the oceans
Researchers developed a synthesis method for model polyethylene particles designed to replicate the physicochemical properties of naturally degraded nanoplastics in the ocean, addressing the need for environmentally representative reference materials for studying nanoplastic behavior in marine systems.
Marine microplastic: Preparation of relevant test materials for laboratory assessment of ecosystem impacts
Researchers developed methods to prepare environmentally realistic marine microplastic test materials from weathered plastic litter for laboratory ecotoxicology studies, addressing the limitation that most prior research used pristine, homogeneous plastics that do not reflect real-world microplastic complexity.
Physicochemical characterization and quantification of nanoplastics: applicability, limitations and complementarity of batch and fractionation methods
Researchers evaluated a suite of techniques for measuring the size, shape, and chemical makeup of nanoplastics — plastic particles smaller than 1 micrometer — and found that no single method works for all sample types, especially when particles vary in size or clump together. Combining multiple complementary techniques is essential for reliable nanoplastic characterization, particularly in complex environmental or biological samples.
Sonicated polyethylene terephthalate nano- and micro-plastic-induced inflammation, oxidative stress, and autophagy in vitro.
Researchers created PET nano- and microplastic particles using sonication to better mimic environmentally realistic shapes and found these particles induced inflammation, oxidative stress, and autophagy in human cell lines, demonstrating cytotoxic effects relevant to real-world exposures.
Laser Ablation as a Versatile Tool To Mimic Polyethylene Terephthalate Nanoplastic Pollutants: Characterization and Toxicology Assessment
Researchers developed a laser ablation method to produce polyethylene terephthalate (PET) nanoplastics that closely mimic those found in the environment, unlike commercially available engineered nanoparticles. Toxicology tests on marine organisms showed that these realistic PET nanoplastics caused measurable biological effects, suggesting that the method provides a more accurate tool for studying nanoplastic impacts.
Eco-Friendly Fabrication of Nanoplastic Particles and Fibrils Using Polymer Blends as Templates
Researchers developed an eco-friendly method for fabricating well-defined nanoplastic particles and fibrils using polymer blends as templates, addressing the lack of standardized nanoplastic reference materials that hinders toxicity research. The approach enables production of reproducible nanoplastic standards for analytical method development.
Preparation of Degraded Microplastics That Imitate Surface Properties in the Environment
Researchers developed laboratory methods to prepare degraded microplastics that accurately mimic the surface properties of environmentally weathered particles, filling a gap in toxicology research that often uses pristine plastic beads instead of realistic aged particles. The study characterized how surface chemistry, roughness, and charge of laboratory-degraded microplastics compare to those collected from natural environments.
Generation of Simulated “Natural” Nanoplastics from Polypropylene Food Packaging as the Experimental Standard
Researchers developed a laboratory protocol to generate simulated 'natural' nanoplastics from polypropylene food packaging using an SEM-particle size distribution analyzer-surface-enhanced Raman scattering assay, producing experimental standards with physicochemical properties more representative of environmental nanoplastics than commercial spherical nanoparticles used in most toxicology studies.
Forming Micro-and Nano-Plastics from Agricultural Plastic Films for Employment in Fundamental Research Studies
Researchers developed a lab-scale multi-step mechanical procedure to produce environmentally representative microplastics and nanoplastics from commercial agricultural plastic mulch films -- including polybutylene succinate adipate and polyethylene mulch -- enabling more ecologically relevant ecotoxicity and fate studies compared to idealized polystyrene microspheres.
In vitro generation of micro/nano-plastics for biological tests
A pin-on-disc method using plastic pins and micro-textured glass discs was employed to generate micro/nanoplastics with defined composition for biological toxicity testing. The study investigated the repeated elastic behavior of materials during particle generation to better control the physicochemical properties of test particles and improve their similarity to naturally occurring environmental microplastics.
Preparation of Nanoscale Particles of Five Major Polymers as Potential Standards for the Study of Nanoplastics
Researchers developed a precipitation-based method for preparing nanoscale particles of five major polymers, creating standardized reference materials needed for studying nanoplastic distribution and toxicity in the environment.
Developing nano plastics models to study their fate in the environment.
Researchers developed nanoplastic model particles with defined properties to study their behavior and fate in environmental systems. Standardized nanoplastic models are needed because naturally occurring nanoplastics are difficult to isolate and characterize for controlled experiments.
Advancements in environmental nanoplastics research
This review synthesises advances in environmental nanoplastics research, discussing distinctions between nanoplastics and microplastics in physicochemical properties, limitations in current analytical methods for environmental samples, and gaps between laboratory exposure studies and real-world concentrations. The authors highlight emerging evidence of nanoplastics in human organs and excretions and argue that methodological breakthroughs will usher in a 'nano era' of plastic pollution research.
Are we really producing environmentally relevant reference materials for microplastic studies?
This study critically evaluated whether current laboratory-produced microplastic reference materials adequately represent the properties of microplastics found in real environments, examining particle morphology, chemical composition, and surface characteristics. Significant gaps were identified between commercially available reference materials and environmentally relevant particles, limiting the ecological realism of ecotoxicology studies.
Towards more realistic reference microplastics and nanoplastics: preparation of polyethylene micro/nanoparticles with a biosurfactant
Polyethylene micro/nanoparticles stabilized with a biosurfactant were prepared as more realistic reference materials for ecotoxicity testing, better representing the surface properties and behavior of environmental microplastics compared to commercial standard materials. The study addresses a key methodological limitation in nanoplastic research by providing particles with environmentally relevant surface chemistry.
In Vitro High-Throughput Toxicological Assessment of Nanoplastics
Researchers developed a high-throughput in vitro method to assess nanoplastic toxicity, finding that laser-ablated polycarbonate and PET nanoparticles showed greater cellular uptake and toxicity than nanoprecipitated PET, highlighting how production method affects nanoplastic hazard.
The environmental fate of nanoplastics: What we know and what we need to know about aggregation
Researchers systematically analyzed experimental studies on nanoplastic aggregation behavior, evaluating the environmental relevance of 377 solution chemistries and 163 particle models. The study found that commonly used polymer latex spheres do not accurately represent real-world nanoplastics, and suggests that incidentally produced nanoplastics may be more sensitive to heteroaggregation than previously expected.
Towards nanoplastic reference materials representative of partially degraded/naturally aged samples in complex food and environmental matrices
Researchers developed nanoplastic reference materials that better represent partially degraded and naturally aged particles found in real environmental and food matrices, addressing the inadequacy of commercially available monodispersed spherical particles that do not reflect the polydispersed, irregular morphology of environmental nanoplastics.
Accelerated Weathering of Microplastics: A Systematic Approach to Model Microplastic Production
Researchers developed a systematic laboratory method for producing environmentally realistic microplastics through accelerated UV weathering of common polymer types. The approach generates particles with surface degradation patterns that closely mimic those found in nature, unlike commercially available test beads. The study provides a reproducible protocol that could improve the relevance of microplastic toxicity and environmental fate studies.