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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Challenges in assessing ecological and health risks of microplastics and nanoplastics: tracking their dynamics in living organisms
ClearFluorescent 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.
Digestible Fluorescent Coatings for Cumulative Quantification of Microplastic Ingestion
Researchers developed digestible fluorescent coatings for microplastic particles that allow cumulative quantification of ingestion over time, overcoming the limitation of gut-content snapshots by enabling tracking of total microplastic exposure in organisms.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
A critical viewpoint on current issues, limitations, and future research needs on micro- and nanoplastic studies: From the detection to the toxicological assessment.
This critical review examines the current methods for detecting and characterizing micro- and nanoplastics in various environmental samples, as well as reported toxic effects from in vivo and in vitro studies. The authors found that while substantial effort has been made to understand microplastic behavior, the scientific community is still far from a complete understanding of how these particles behave in biological systems. The review calls for improved standardized protocols and more studies focused on uptake kinetics, accumulation, and biodistribution.
Development and Application of Nanoparticle-Nanopolymer Composite Spheres for the Study of Environmental Processes
This study developed labeled synthetic nanoplastic particles with built-in chemical, isotopic, or fluorescent tracers to allow precise tracking of plastic particle fate and behavior in complex environmental and biological samples. These standardized tracer particles address a key bottleneck in microplastic research by enabling more sensitive and selective detection in real-world matrices.
Micro/nanoplastics in aquatic ecosystems: Analytical challenges, ecological impacts, and mitigation strategies
This review provides a comprehensive assessment of micro- and nanoplastic pollution in aquatic ecosystems, covering detection methods, toxic effects across the food chain, and emerging cleanup strategies. Researchers highlight the limitations of current analytical techniques and the challenges of accurately measuring these tiny particles in water and living organisms. The study identifies key research priorities needed to better understand and mitigate the growing threat of plastic particle pollution in waterways.
Application of internal persistent fluorescent fibers in tracking microplastics in vivo processes in aquatic organisms
A new method for producing fluorescent microfibers of controlled length was developed using a fiber slicer, and these fibers were successfully tracked inside aquatic organisms including water fleas, shrimp, and zebrafish using ultraviolet imaging. The technique provides a practical tool for studying how microfibers move through and accumulate within living organisms.
Making Fluorescent Nylon, Polypropylene, and Polystyrene Microplastics for In Vivo and In Vitro Imaging
Researchers developed two methods to make environmentally relevant microplastics fluorescent for imaging—Rhodamine 6G staining for nylon and polypropylene, and an alternative approach—enabling accurate tracking and quantification of non-fluorescent polymers in biological systems.
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.
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.
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.
Accumulation and Distribution of Fluorescent Microplastics in the Early Life Stages of Zebrafish
Researchers tracked the accumulation and distribution of fluorescent microplastics in early life stages of a freshwater organism, finding that microplastics were taken up and distributed across body tissues. The results help explain how microplastics accumulate in young aquatic organisms and potentially affect their development.
Nano-plastics and their analytical characterisation and fate in the marine environment: From source to sea
Researchers reviewed the sources, environmental fate, organism interactions, and analytical detection methods for nano-sized plastic polymers in the marine environment, concluding that nanoplastics pose the greatest ecological risk among plastic size fractions and that standardized analytical protocols for nanoplastic characterization are urgently needed.
From the synthesis of labeled nanoplastic model materials (isotopic and metallic) to their use in ecotoxicological studies with the detection and quantification analytical methods.
This study developed labeled nanoplastic model materials using isotopic and metallic tracers to enable tracking and quantification of nanoplastics in complex biological and environmental matrices at environmentally relevant concentrations. Labeled particles allowed localization and measurement of nanoplastics at levels not detectable by conventional methods, advancing mechanistic exposure studies.
Tissue Clearing To Localize Microplastics via Three-Dimensional Imaging of Whole Organisms
Researchers developed a tissue-clearing technique that renders whole organisms transparent after microplastic ingestion, allowing 3D fluorescence imaging to precisely locate unlabeled environmental microplastics inside an organism without destroying tissue. Unlike conventional digestion methods that lose spatial information, this approach preserves the organism's structure while a fluorescent dye selectively stains the plastics. This tool could substantially improve our understanding of where microplastics accumulate within living organisms and what tissues they affect.
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.
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.
Fluorescent Polypropylene Nanoplastics for Studying Uptake, Biodistribution, and Excretion in Zebrafish Embryos
Researchers developed a method to produce fluorescent polypropylene nanoplastics and tracked their movement in zebrafish embryos. The study found that the nanoplastics were ingested, distributed in the intestine, and eventually excreted, providing a new tool for assessing the biological risks of environmentally relevant plastic particles at the nanoscale.