Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Characterisation of microplastics and unicellular algae in seawater by targeting carbon via single particle and single cell ICP-MS

Researchers used single particle and single cell ICP-MS to characterize microplastics and microalgae simultaneously in seawater by targeting carbon signals, demonstrating the technique as a rapid and sensitive tool for distinguishing plastic particles from biological material.

2021 Analytica Chimica Acta 62 citations
Article Tier 2

Discrimination of Microplastics and Phytoplankton Using Impedance Cytometry

Researchers demonstrated that impedance cytometry can discriminate between microplastics and phytoplankton in ocean water samples. The study suggests this technique could enable high-throughput, deployable monitoring of both plankton communities and microplastic pollution levels, addressing a key gap in current marine monitoring capabilities.

2024 ACS Sensors 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Simultaneously Acquiring Optical and Acoustic Properties of Individual Microalgae Cells Suspended in Water

Researchers developed a multimodality technique to simultaneously measure polarized light scattering, fluorescence, and laser-induced acoustic wave signals from individual microalgae cells in water, demonstrating that the combined approach could discriminate between Spirulina species and different physiological states of Microcystis and enable single-cell assessment of photosynthetic energy absorption.

2022 Biosensors 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Quantification of palladium-labelled nanoplastics algal uptake by single cell and single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Researchers developed a method using palladium-labelled nanoplastics and single-cell mass spectrometry to quantify nanoplastic uptake by algal cells. The study demonstrated that this technique can measure nanoplastic exposure on a per-cell basis, providing a valuable new tool for understanding how nanoplastics interact with organisms at the base of aquatic food webs.

2024 Environmental Chemistry 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Opportunities in optical and electrical single-cell technologies to study microbial ecosystems

This paper is not about microplastics; it reviews advanced optical (flow cytometry, Raman spectroscopy) and electrical single-cell analysis technologies used to study microbial communities and ecology.

2023 Frontiers in Microbiology 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Inorganic Nanoparticle and Nanoplastic Transformations and the Impact on Biouptake by Freshwater Algal Cells Using Single Cell and Single Particle Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

This dissertation used single-particle and single-cell ICP-MS to quantify how nanoparticles and nanoplastics transform in the presence of freshwater algae and how those transformations affect biouptake, finding that algal interactions altered particle surface chemistry and changed bioavailability.

2025 Scholar Commons (University of South Carolina)
Article Tier 2

A polyp-on-chip for coral long-term culture

Researchers developed a microfluidic chip-based platform for culturing individual coral polyps under controlled conditions, enabling long-term physiological and ecological studies. This tool could be useful for studying how microplastics and chemical pollutants affect coral health at the cellular level.

2020 Scientific Reports 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Determination of carbon in microplastics and single cells by total consumption microdroplet ICP-TOFMS

This study developed a total consumption microdroplet ICP-TOFMS method to determine carbon content in microplastics and single cells, overcoming size limitations of conventional nebulization methods. The approach enables more accurate elemental characterization of individual microplastic particles.

2023 Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Photonic Microfluidic Technologies for Phytoplankton Research

This review covers photonic microfluidic technologies for studying phytoplankton — microscopic algae that produce half of Earth's oxygen — highlighting how miniaturized optical tools enable single-cell analysis of these ecologically critical organisms.

2022 Biosensors 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Effective concentration of marine nanoflagellates with a microfluidic device

Researchers developed a microfluidic device to concentrate marine nanoflagellates — tiny single-celled organisms — without damaging them. The passive, size-based separation method outperformed centrifugation and membrane filtration in preserving cell viability. This technology could improve studies of marine microbial ecology, including how microbes interact with microplastics in ocean environments.

2023 1 citations
Article Tier 2

A Droplet-Based Microfluidic Impedance Flow Cytometer for Detection of Micropollutants in Water

A droplet-based microfluidic impedance cytometer was designed and tested for in-situ detection of microplastic particles in water, offering a portable and rapid alternative to laboratory-based analytical methods.

2024 Environments 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Novel methodology for identification and quantification of microplastics in biological samples

Researchers validated a protocol for identifying and quantifying polyethylene microplastics in biological samples, finding that membrane filtration caused particle retention problems and that flow cytometry offered a more reliable alternative for analysis of biological digests.

2021 Environmental Pollution 35 citations
Article Tier 2

Flow cytometry as new promising detection tool for micro and submicron plastic particles

Researchers evaluated flow cytometry as a detection tool for micro- and nanoplastics, testing its ability to rapidly identify and count plastic particles in environmental and biological samples. Results demonstrated that flow cytometry offers a promising high-throughput approach for microplastic detection compared to more time-intensive conventional methods.

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

In Situ Determination of Chlorella Concentration Using Single Entity Electrochemistry

Researchers developed an electrochemical method for detecting individual algal cells in real time using an ultramicroelectrode and single-particle collision technique. The approach could distinguish individual Chlorella cells and relate collision frequency to algal concentration, offering potential for early detection of harmful algal blooms. While not directly focused on microplastics, the method provides a platform for monitoring water quality impacts related to microplastic-linked eutrophication.

2026 Sensors
Article Tier 2

Portable Impedance-Sensing Device for Microorganism Characterization in the Field

This study developed a portable microfluidic device using impedance spectroscopy to rapidly detect and characterize individual microorganisms in heterogeneous field samples. Portable detection technologies are also being applied to monitoring microorganisms associated with microplastic surfaces (the plastisphere) in water.

2023 Research Square (Research Square)
Article Tier 2

Imaging Flow Cytometry Protocols for Examining Phagocytosis of Microplastics and Bioparticles by Immune Cells of Aquatic Animals

Imaging flow cytometry was adapted to study how aquatic animal cells take up microplastic particles, enabling detailed, high-throughput analysis of cellular responses to plastic ingestion. This method could help researchers better understand how microplastics harm marine and freshwater organisms at the cellular level.

2020 Frontiers in Immunology 46 citations
Article Tier 2

Dielectrophoretic separation of microalgae cells in ballast water in a microfluidic chip

Researchers developed a microfluidic chip using dielectrophoresis to continuously separate microalgae cells from ballast water, which also contains bacteria, microplastics, and other particles. Improved ballast water treatment is important because ships spread invasive species and contaminants including microplastics to new ocean regions.

2018 Electrophoresis 39 citations
Article Tier 2

Calcium-mediated mitigation of aged nanoplastic-induced stress in microalgae: Insights into photosynthesis, energy metabolism, and antioxidant defense from physiological and multi-omics analyses

Scientists found that tiny plastic particles (nanoplastics) severely damage microalgae, which are important organisms used to clean wastewater before it enters our water supply. However, adding calcium to the water protected the microalgae from this plastic pollution and helped them continue removing harmful substances from wastewater. This research suggests calcium could help maintain clean water treatment systems even as plastic pollution increases in our environment.

2026 Bioresource Technology
Article Tier 2

Flow cytometry as new promising detection tool for micro and submicron plastic particles

Researchers evaluated flow cytometry as a tool for detecting and counting micro- and submicron plastic particles in environmental and biological samples. The method offered rapid throughput and the ability to distinguish plastic particles from biological material, but required careful optimization for complex matrices.

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

Study the impact of microplastic pollutants on marine algae by novel dielectric spectroscopy method

Researchers developed a PCB coaxial probe-based dielectric spectroscopy method to assess the impact of microplastic pollutants on marine algae at varying concentrations. By measuring changes in the dielectric constant of algae exposed to microplastics, the study demonstrated that this non-destructive technique can rapidly detect and quantify the effects of microplastics on marine algal physiology.

2022 2 citations
Article Tier 2

An Efficient Low-Cost Laboratory Workflow for the Study of Blood Cells and RNA Extractions in Marine Invertebrates

This paper describes a low-cost laboratory method for studying blood cells and extracting genetic material from marine invertebrates, which are widely used as indicators of environmental pollution. Better lab methods will improve our ability to measure the biological effects of microplastic exposure in these organisms.

2021 Preprints.org 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Technological Advancements in Field Investigations of Marine Microorganisms: From Sampling Strategies to Molecular Analyses

This is not a microplastics study; it reviews advances in field sampling and molecular analysis methods for studying marine microorganisms, covering omics technologies and in-situ sampling strategies for understanding ocean biogeochemical processes.

2023 Journal of Marine Science and Engineering 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Pulse Feature-Enhanced Classification of Microalgae and Cyanobacteria Using Polarized Light Scattering and Fluorescence Signals

Researchers used polarization-sensitive flow cytometry with enhanced pulse feature analysis to classify microalgae and cyanobacteria in mixed samples, training classifiers on optical signatures that distinguish cell types without staining. The method achieved high classification accuracy and offers potential for rapid, label-free phytoplankton monitoring in environmental water samples.

2024 Biosensors 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Development of a Microfluidic Ion Current Measurement System for Single-Microplastic Detection

Researchers adapted an ion current sensing technique — previously used for single-cell analysis — to measure individual microplastic particles rapidly, achieving size measurements of 100 particles in just two seconds. While the method could not yet distinguish between different polymer types, it opens a path toward high-throughput, single-particle microplastic analysis that could complement slower techniques like Raman spectroscopy and electron microscopy.

2023 Journal of Robotics and Mechatronics