Papers

61,005 results
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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

Harnessing PET to track micro- and nanoplastics in vivo

This study explores the use of positron emission tomography (PET) imaging to track micro- and nanoplastic particles in living organisms. Researchers developed methods to radiolabel plastic particles, enabling accurate determination of how these pollutants move through the body, which is critical for understanding the health effects of chronic microplastic exposure.

2021 Scientific Reports 58 citations
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

Advancing microplastic detection in zebrafish with micro computed tomography: A novel approach to revealing microplastic distribution in organisms

Researchers tested a new approach using X-ray micro-computed tomography (microCT) to detect and map microplastics inside zebrafish in three dimensions. The non-destructive imaging technique successfully identified polyethylene particles throughout the gut and revealed how their distribution changed over time. This method offers a promising alternative to traditional destructive techniques for studying how microplastics move through living organisms.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 6 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

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

Synthesis of near-infrared-fluorophore-loaded microplastics with different compositions for in vivo tracking

Researchers synthesised fluorescent microplastic particles of different polymer types that can be tracked inside living animals using near-infrared imaging, creating a tool for studying how microplastics move through and accumulate within biological tissues. These model particles help researchers understand real-world microplastic behaviour inside organisms, which is critical for assessing health risks.

2026 Environmental Science Advances
Article Tier 2

Molecular Imaging, Radiochemistry, and Environmental Pollutants

This review examines how molecular imaging and radiotracer chemistry techniques can be used to track how environmental pollutants — including plastics-related chemicals — move through living bodies at very low, realistic concentrations. These methods can reveal where pollutants accumulate in tissues and how quickly they are processed or retained, providing data that traditional toxicology studies miss. The authors highlight the potential of these tools to better characterize the health risks posed by emerging contaminants like microplastic-associated chemicals.

2023 Journal of Nuclear Medicine 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Ovarian Cell Accumulation of Model PVC Nanoplastics Labelled With CdSe ‐ QDs Investigated by X‐Ray Fluorescence Microscopy

Researchers used advanced X-ray fluorescence microscopy to track the accumulation of PVC nanoplastics inside human ovarian cells at near-cellular resolution. They confirmed that the nanoplastics entered the cells and remained intact without releasing their fluorescent labels, while also observing changes in the cells' mineral composition. The study raises concerns about the potential for nanoplastics to accumulate in reproductive tissues and affect cellular function.

2024 X-Ray Spectrometry 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Noncovalent radiolabeling of microplastics using a desferrioxamine-conjugated Nile Red derivative for quantitative in vivo tracking

Researchers developed a new method for tracking microplastics in living organisms using a specialized dye that attaches to plastic surfaces without altering their properties, enabling both fluorescence imaging and radioactive labeling. The technique allowed quantitative tracking of microplastic movement through the gastrointestinal tract of mice using PET imaging, providing a tool for better understanding how microplastics behave in the body.

2026 Analytica Chimica Acta
Article Tier 2

A quantitative study of nanoplastics within cells using magnetic resonance imaging

Researchers developed a magnetic resonance imaging strategy to quantify nanoplastics internalized by mouse macrophage cells, providing a novel non-invasive approach for tracking nanoplastic uptake and distribution within living organisms.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Near-infrared (NIR-II) fluorescent poly(ethylene terephthalate) nano-microplastics for in vivo tracking

Researchers developed a new method to track nano-microplastics inside living animals in real time using near-infrared fluorescent imaging. By embedding a special dye into common PET plastic particles, they were able to follow the particles through mice after oral exposure, offering a promising tool for studying how plastics of different sizes behave inside the body.

2025 Journal of Nanoparticle Research 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Synchrotron-based Spectromicroscopy for Microplastic Detection and Characterization

Researchers reviewed how synchrotron-based imaging techniques — which use powerful X-ray beams to see extremely fine details — can detect and chemically identify micro- and nanoplastics that conventional methods miss, including plastics absorbed into biological tissues. These high-resolution tools are still in early stages but show strong potential for mapping microplastic contamination at the nanoscale.

2025 Economic and Environmental Geology
Article Tier 2

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

Researchers combined fluorescence microscopy, second harmonic generation imaging, and coherent Raman scattering to detect and map micro- and nanoplastics in lung cells, zebrafish, and mouse tissues. Polystyrene nanoplastics were found to cross the blood-brain barrier and accumulate in lipid-rich brain regions in animal models.

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

From the synthesis of labeled nanoplastic model materials (isotopic and metallic) to their use in ecotoxicological studies with the detection and quantification analytical methods.

Researchers synthesized isotopically and metallically labeled nanoplastic model materials to enable tracking and quantification of plastic nanoparticles in complex biological and environmental matrices at trace concentrations. The labeled models supported mechanistic studies of nanoplastic fate and exposure by allowing detection at environmentally relevant concentrations not achievable with conventional unlabeled particles.

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

New fluorescence labeling isotactic polypropylenes as a tracer: a proof of concept

Researchers developed fluorescence-labeled isotactic polypropylene tracer materials as a proof of concept for detecting polypropylene-derived microplastic pollutants in organic tissues, enabling tracking of PP-sourced particles in biological samples.

2022 Polymer Chemistry 9 citations
Article Tier 2

In situ imaging of microplastics in living organisms based on mass spectrometry technology

Researchers reviewed mass spectrometry-based imaging techniques for detecting microplastics inside living organisms, comparing different ion source methods for their ability to visualize plastic particles in biological tissue. They found that these techniques can provide both spatial distribution maps and chemical composition analysis of microplastics at high resolution. The study suggests that mass spectrometry imaging could become a powerful tool for understanding how microplastics accumulate and distribute within living systems.

2024 Eco-Environment & Health 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Radiolabeling of Micro-/Nanoplastics via In-Diffusion

Researchers developed a radiolabeling method for micro- and nanoplastics by introducing a 64Cu radiotracer into common plastics including polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and others via an in-diffusion technique. The approach provides a sensitive and selective detection strategy for tracking plastic particles in complex ecological media, addressing a key challenge in environmental impact research.

2023 Nanomaterials 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Fluorescent Nanodiamonds for Tracking Single Polymer Particles in Cells and Tissues

Scientists embedded fluorescent nanodiamond particles inside polymer nanoparticles to create a tracking label that does not bleach or blink, enabling long-term imaging of where plastic particles end up inside cells and liver tissue. This tool addresses a key challenge in microplastics research — reliably following individual particles through biological systems — and could improve understanding of how nanoplastics and drug-delivery nanoparticles are distributed and retained in the body.

2023 Analytical Chemistry 10 citations
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

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

Addressing uncertainties in correlative imaging of exogenous particles with the tissue microanatomy with synchronous imaging strategies

A new synchronous imaging strategy using lanthanide-tagged antibodies combined with X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy was developed to address the limitations of correlative imaging for studying exogenous particles in tissue, enabling simultaneous characterization of elemental composition and cell distribution.

2023 Metallomics 4 citations
Article Tier 2

PET Tracing of Biodistribution for Orally Administered 64Cu-Labeled Polystyrene in Mice

Researchers used PET imaging to track the real-time biodistribution of orally administered radiolabeled polystyrene microplastics in mice. The study found that microplastics were absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and distributed to various organs, providing direct visual evidence of how ingested plastic particles can travel through the body.

2021 Journal of Nuclear Medicine 81 citations
Article Tier 2

Detection of nano- and microplastics in mammalian tissue

Researchers detected nano- and microplastics in mammalian tissue samples using sensitive analytical techniques, confirming particle accumulation in organs beyond the gastrointestinal tract. The findings demonstrate that small plastic particles can translocate from the gut to systemic tissues.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)