Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Correlative spectroscopy and microscopy analysis of micro- and nanoplastics in complex biological matrices

Researchers combined fluorescence, second harmonic generation, and coherent Raman scattering microscopy in a single instrument to image micro- and nanoplastics in lung cells, zebrafish, and mouse tissues. Polystyrene nanoplastics crossed the blood-brain barrier and accumulated in lipid-rich brain regions in mouse models.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

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.

2023 NanoImpact 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Biodistribution and toxicity analysis of polystyrene nanoplastics in mice based on Raman detection

Researchers used surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy with an optimized gold-silver nanorod substrate to detect and track 20 nm, 100 nm, and 1000 nm polystyrene nanoplastics in mouse lungs, demonstrating accurate biodistribution mapping down to 0.01 mg/mL concentration.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials
Article Tier 2

Imaging and quantifying the biological uptake and distribution of nanoplastics using a dual-functional model material

Researchers developed a dual-functional nanoplastic model material that allows both imaging and precise quantification of nanoplastic uptake in biological systems. Using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, they could track where nanoplastics accumulated in organisms at high resolution. The tool addresses a major gap in nanoplastic research by enabling more accurate measurement of how these tiny particles interact with living tissues.

2024 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Imaging and quantifying the biological uptake and distribution of nanoplastics using a dual-functional model material

This study used advanced imaging techniques to visualize and quantify nanoplastic uptake and distribution in biological systems, tracking particle translocation from exposure routes into tissues and characterizing intracellular localization.

2024 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Advancements in optical techniques for direct identification and localization of micro- and nanoplastics in biological samples

Researchers reviewed advanced optical methods for directly detecting and localizing microplastics in biological tissues, highlighting techniques that can identify particles without extraction or digestion. Optical approaches including Raman mapping and coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering allow spatial mapping of microplastics in tissue sections.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Spectro‐Microscopic Techniques for Studying Nanoplastics in the Environment and in Organisms

This review examines spectro-microscopic techniques for detecting and characterizing nanoplastics (under 1 um) in environmental and biological matrices, arguing that effective analysis requires combining particle imaging with chemical characterization of the same particles, and highlighting methods capable of simultaneous morphological and chemical identification.

2022 Angewandte Chemie 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nanoplastics demonstrate high structural stability in vivo: A comparative study with silica nanoparticles via SERS tag labeling

Researchers developed a SERS tag labeling technique to track polystyrene nanoplastics in vivo, finding that nanoplastics demonstrate remarkably high structural stability in organisms compared to silica nanoparticles, which degraded more readily.

2022 Chemosphere 28 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2025
Article Tier 2

Advancements in optical techniques for direct identification and localization of micro- and nanoplastics in biological samples

This review surveyed advances in optical techniques for detecting and localizing microplastics directly in biological tissue samples, addressing the challenge that human tissue detection has not kept pace with detection in environmental matrices. Emerging methods including Raman microspectroscopy and CARS microscopy were identified as most promising for tissue-level microplastic identification.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Morphological and chemical characterization of nanoplastics in human tissue

Researchers developed methods to visualize and chemically characterize nanoplastics that have accumulated in human tissue samples. They were able to identify plastic particles smaller than one micrometer within tissue using advanced microscopy and spectroscopy techniques. The study provides some of the first direct evidence of nanoscale plastic accumulation in the human body, which is essential for designing future health effects research.

2025 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Quantitative assessment and monitoring of microplastics and nanoplastics distributions and lipid metabolism in live zebrafish using hyperspectral stimulated Raman scattering microscopy

Researchers developed a new imaging technique to watch microplastics and nanoplastics accumulate in live zebrafish in real time, without needing dyes or labels. They found that these tiny plastic particles built up in the fish's digestive system and disrupted fat metabolism, providing direct visual evidence of how micro- and nanoplastics can interfere with basic biological processes.

2024 Environment International 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Label-free detection of polystyrene nanoparticles in Daphnia magna using Raman confocal mapping

Researchers demonstrated that Raman confocal mapping can detect polystyrene nanoparticles inside Daphnia magna without labels or dyes, revealing particle accumulation in the gut and providing a non-invasive method for studying nanoplastic uptake in organisms.

2023 Nanoscale Advances 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Challenges in assessing ecological and health risks of microplastics and nanoplastics: tracking their dynamics in living organisms

Researchers proposed a new method for tracking micro- and nanoplastics in living organisms using fluorescent monomers built directly into the plastic particles during synthesis. Current detection methods require destructive sampling and only provide static snapshots, missing the real-time movement of particles through biological systems. This fluorescent monomer approach is designed to enable continuous, stable imaging of plastic particles as they move through complex biological environments.

2026 New Contaminants
Article Tier 2

Raman-spektroskopische Charakterisierung von Zellen und Gewebe nach Exposition mit Nanoplastik

Researchers exposed human monocytic THP-1 cells, trophoblasts, and placenta cells to primary and secondary nanoplastic particles at 100 particles/cell in sizes of 200 nm and 60 nm, then used confocal laser scanning microscopy and Raman microspectroscopy to locate and characterize intracellular nanoplastics.

2022 LIBDOC - Westsächsische Hochschule Zwickau
Article Tier 2

Whole-Tissue Distribution Analysis for Visualization of Nanoplastics in the Mouse Brain

Researchers used whole-tissue clearing combined with fluorescence microscopy to visualize the three-dimensional distribution of nanoplastics throughout intact mouse brains without sectioning. This approach revealed nanoplastic accumulation patterns across brain regions that section-based imaging would have missed, demonstrating a valuable method for mapping nanoplastic biodistribution in structurally complex organs.

2025
Article Tier 2

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.

2020 Environmental Science Nano 38 citations
Article Tier 2

Spectro‐Microscopic Techniques for Studying Nanoplastics in the Environment and in Organisms

This review examined spectro-microscopic techniques available for detecting and studying nanoplastics in environmental and biological samples. The study highlights that detecting nanoplastics remains challenging because their small size falls below the detection limits of common analytical tools, and their chemical composition is similar to organic matrices, making identification difficult.

2022 Angewandte Chemie International Edition 55 citations
Article Tier 2

Super-resolution Raman imaging towards visualisation of nanoplastics

Super-resolution Raman imaging was evaluated as a method to visualize nanoplastics smaller than the conventional diffraction-limited laser spot size, overcoming a key barrier in nanoplastic characterization. The technique extends confocal Raman capabilities into the nanoscale detection range needed for environmental nanoplastic analysis.

2023 Analytical Methods 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Crossing barriers – tracking micro- and nanoplastic pathways into the human brain

Researchers tracked potential pathways by which micro- and nanoplastics may enter the human brain, examining both in vitro cell models and post-mortem brain tissue. They found that human monocytes rapidly internalized polystyrene particles into endocytic vesicles and mitochondria, and detected plastic particles in brain tissue samples, providing evidence that nanoplastics may be capable of crossing brain barriers.

2026
Article Tier 2

Uptake, bioaccumulation, biodistribution and depuration of polystyrene nanoplastics in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Researchers used advanced mass spectrometry to track how polystyrene nanoplastics accumulate in and are cleared from zebrafish tissues over time. The nanoplastics concentrated most in the intestine, liver, and gills, with only partial clearance after the exposure ended. This study provides important data on how persistent nanoplastics can be in living organisms, which helps scientists better assess the long-term risks of plastic particle exposure.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 53 citations
Article Tier 2

Making fluorescent nylon, polypropylene, and polystyrene microplastics for in-vivo and in-vitro imaging

Researchers developed methods for making fluorescent nylon, polypropylene, and polystyrene microplastics by incorporating fluorescent dyes during fabrication, enabling reliable tracking in live-cell and in vivo imaging studies. The fluorescent MPs retained their physical properties while allowing visualization of cellular uptake, tissue distribution, and biological interactions.

2025 Preprints.org
Article Tier 2

Correlative SEM-Raman microscopy to reveal nanoplastics in complex environments

Researchers developed a correlative approach combining scanning electron microscopy and Raman microscopy to detect and identify nanoplastics as small as 100 nanometers in complex environmental samples. The method was tested on various matrices and successfully identified individual plastic nanoparticles that would be missed by conventional techniques. The study represents a significant advance in analytical capability for studying the smallest and most challenging size fraction of plastic pollution.

2021 Micron 58 citations
Article Tier 2

Detection of polystyrene nanoplastics in biological tissues with a fluorescent molecular rotor probe

A fluorescent dye was developed to detect polystyrene nanoplastics in biological tissues, offering a simpler alternative to existing methods. This tool could help scientists better understand how nanoplastics spread through living organisms and accumulate in organs.

2019 Journal of Xenobiotics 37 citations