Papers

61,005 results
|
Article Tier 2

Fabrication and characterization of (fluorescent) model nanoplastics for polymer specific detection

Scientists developed fluorescently labeled model nanoplastics that mimic the properties of real plastic particles, enabling polymer-specific identification at very small scales. These standardized reference particles are a key research tool because nanoplastics are otherwise extremely difficult to detect and characterize in environmental samples.

2026 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Photoluminescence‐Based Techniques for the Detection of Micro‐ and Nanoplastics

This review examined photoluminescence-based techniques for detecting micro- and nanoplastics, evaluating fluorescent labeling and spectroscopic methods as promising approaches to address the challenge of identifying plastic particles at the smallest scales.

2021 Chemistry - A European Journal 46 citations
Article Tier 2

Labelling of micro- and nanoplastics for environmental studies: state-of-the-art and future challenges

Researchers reviewed labelling techniques used to track micro- and nanoplastics in environmental studies, categorizing them into fluorescent, metal, stable isotope, and radioisotope methods. The study found that fluorescent labelling works well for tracking microplastics while metal labelling is more sensitive for nanoplastics research, though a major challenge remains in developing techniques that do not alter the inherent properties of the plastic particles being studied.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials 30 citations
Article Tier 2

Stable staining of microplastics using conjugated polymer nanoparticles

Researchers developed conjugated polymer nanoparticles as a new analytical tool for staining and detecting microplastics, demonstrating stable fluorescent labeling of polystyrene particles that remained effective for at least 2.5 years after initial application.

2025 Environmental Science Nano
Article Tier 2

Facile detection of microplastics from a variety of environmental samples with conjugated polymer nanoparticles

Researchers developed a quick and straightforward method for detecting microplastics in environmental samples using fluorescent conjugated polymer nanoparticles. The technique can identify microplastic particles across a range of sample types without requiring complex laboratory equipment. This approach could make microplastic monitoring more accessible and practical for routine environmental testing.

2024 Environmental Science Advances 4 citations
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

Fluorescent labelling as a tool for identifying and quantifying nanoplastics

Researchers used fluorescent labeling with four fluorescent molecules to enable detection of nanoplastics from six common polymer types (PP, LDPE, HDPE, PS, PET, PVC) via 3D fluorescence spectral analysis. The method provides a practical approach to identifying and quantifying nanoplastics in samples where conventional spectroscopic methods face sensitivity challenges.

2024 RSC Advances 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessing the effects of luminescently labelled and non-labelled PET nanoparticles on environmental bacteria

Researchers created fluorescently labeled PET nanoparticles to study how tiny plastic fragments from everyday products affect bacteria in the environment. They found that PET nanoparticles adhered to bacterial cells, altered their ability to use different carbon sources, and affected biofilm formation. The study demonstrates a new visualization technique for tracking nanoplastics in biological samples and reveals that even nanoscale plastic particles can influence microbial behavior.

2025 Chemosphere 2 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2025 Microplastics
Article Tier 2

Fabrication and characterization of (fluorescent) model nanoplastics for polymer specific detection

This study developed and characterized fluorescent model nanoplastics that can be tracked and identified by polymer type, providing standardized reference particles for laboratory research. Reliable model nanoplastics are critical tools for toxicology experiments — without them, it is difficult to compare results across studies or understand which plastic types pose the greatest biological risk.

2026 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
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

Illuminating the Invisible: Fluorescent Probes as Emerging Tools for Micro/Nanoplastic Identification

This review traces the development of fluorescent probes for detecting micro- and nanoplastics in environmental samples, from early hydrophobic stains to advanced molecular designs with improved selectivity. Researchers found that newer probe technologies offer significant advantages in sensitivity and throughput compared to conventional detection methods like FTIR and Raman spectroscopy. The study highlights remaining challenges including standardizing protocols across different environmental matrices and improving detection of the smallest nanoplastic particles.

2025 International Journal of Molecular Sciences 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Simple screening of microplastics in bottled waters and environmental freshwaters using a novel fluorophore

Researchers developed a rapid fluorescence-based screening method for microplastics using the novel fluorophore 1-pyrenebutyric acid N-hydroxysuccinimidyl ester (PBN), which stained diverse synthetic polymer types within 5 minutes and successfully detected microplastics in bottled water and environmental freshwater samples.

2021 Chemosphere 44 citations
Article Tier 2

Labeling of PET and PP nanoplastic test materials with non-leachable π-conjugated fluorescent polymers

Researchers produced fluorescently labeled PET and PP nanoplastic particles using co-precipitation with a conjugated polymer dye, achieving over 85% dye internalization and submicron particle sizes, and demonstrated their use for measuring cell uptake while overcoming dosimetry challenges posed by buoyant particles.

2026
Article Tier 2

Labeling Microplastics with Fluorescent Dyes for Detection, Recovery, and Degradation Experiments

Researchers optimized fluorescent dye staining protocols for labeling 17 different plastic polymer types using four textile dyes and Nile red for detection, recovery, and degradation experiments. Dye performance varied significantly by polymer type and staining conditions, and standardized protocols were recommended to improve comparability across microplastic studies.

2022 Molecules 47 citations
Article Tier 2

Generating Tagged Micro‐ and Nanoparticles of Poly(ethylene furanoate) and Poly(ethylene terephthalate) as Reference Materials

Researchers developed methods for generating fluorescently tagged micro- and nanoparticles of poly(ethylene furanoate) (PEF) and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) as reference materials for environmental and biological detection studies. The tagged particles were designed to overcome the detection limit challenges posed by these emerging polymers in environmental samples and tissues, particularly for PEF, which is not yet commercially exploited at scale.

2025 Macromolecular Rapid Communications
Article Tier 2

A rapid-screening approach to detect and quantify microplastics based on fluorescent tagging with Nile Red

Researchers developed a rapid fluorescent screening method using Nile Red dye to detect and quantify microplastics in environmental samples, finding it significantly faster than conventional methods while maintaining reasonable accuracy.

2017 Scientific Reports 897 citations
Article Tier 2

In Situ Fluorescent Illumination of Microplastics in Water Utilizing a Combination of Dye/Surfactant and Quenching Techniques

Researchers developed an in situ fluorescent microplastic detection method using a nonpolar dye combined with surfactant to form nanoscale dye particles that selectively adsorb onto and penetrate plastic polymer matrices in water, then quenched free dye fluorescence using aniline to enable direct visualization of stained microplastics without filtration.

2022 Polymers 19 citations
Article Tier 2

A photoluminescence strategy for detection nanoplastics in water and biological imaging in cells and plants

Researchers developed a fluorescent probe that can rapidly detect nanoplastics in water samples down to very low concentrations. The probe works by binding to nanoplastic surfaces through electrical and chemical interactions, which causes it to glow, enabling both detection and visual tracking in cells and plant tissues. This tool could help scientists better monitor nanoplastic contamination in water and understand how these tiny particles move through living organisms.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Method of manufacturing and staining microplastics for using in the biological experiments

Researchers developed a method for manufacturing PVC microplastic particles via electrospinning and staining them with fluorescent dyes for use in biological experiments, providing a standardized approach for producing particles of controlled size and morphology. Stained PVC particles retained their fluorescence over experimental time periods, enabling reliable tracking in organism tissues.

2022 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Fluorogenic hyaluronan nanogels for detection of micro- and nanoplastics in water

Researchers developed fluorogenic hyaluronan nanogels that bind selectively to micro- and nanoplastic surfaces in water and become brightly emissive upon binding, enabling sensitive fluorescence-based detection of plastic particles in environmental water samples.

2021 Environmental Science Nano 27 citations
Article Tier 2

Material-Specific Determination Based on Microscopic Observation of Single Microplastic Particles Stained with Fluorescent Dyes

Researchers developed a fluorescence-based technique using commercially available fluorescent dyes to identify the material composition of individual microplastic particles under microscopy, offering a faster first-screening alternative to FT-IR and Raman microspectroscopy. The method was validated on common microplastic types and demonstrated as a practical tool for material-specific determination without requiring specialized spectral expertise.

2022 Sensors 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Rhodamine B dye staining for visualizing microplastics in laboratory-based studies

Researchers evaluated Rhodamine B dye staining as a technique for visualizing and tracking microplastics in laboratory studies, finding that the fluorescent stain effectively labels a range of polymer types and improves detection sensitivity in complex matrices while maintaining particle integrity for subsequent analysis.

2020 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 77 citations
Article Tier 2

Identification of Nanoplastics by Probing the Viscous Nanoenvironment

Researchers developed a cationic fluorescent probe that detects nanoplastics by sensing the viscous nanoenvironment surrounding them rather than reacting with the particle surface, enabling sensitive detection of nanoplastics without relying on conventional reactive functional groups.

2025 Small Science