Papers

61,005 results
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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

Unraveling the in vivo fate of inhaled micro- and nanoplastics with PET imaging

Using advanced PET imaging, researchers tracked what happens to inhaled and injected micro and nanoplastics inside living mice for the first time. They found that nanoplastics largely avoided being captured by immune cells in the lungs and could travel to other organs, while both sizes accumulated heavily in the liver and spleen after entering the bloodstream. This study provides direct evidence that inhaled plastic particles can redistribute throughout the body, which is important for understanding how airborne microplastics might affect human health.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 41 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

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

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

Synthesis of 14C‐Labeled Polyethylene Terephthalate and Generation of 14C‐Nanoparticles for Fate and Disposition Studies

Researchers developed a method to synthesize carbon-14 labeled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and generate radiolabeled nanoparticles for tracking plastic fate in biological systems. The approach combines polycondensation chemistry with nanoprecipitation to produce well-characterized nanoparticles. This tool could enable researchers to study how PET micro- and nanoplastics are absorbed and distributed in the tissues of food animals, addressing a major knowledge gap in understanding plastic exposure through the food chain.

2025 Journal of Labelled Compounds and Radiopharmaceuticals 1 citations
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

Potential Impact Microplastic Polyethylene Terephthalate on Mice

Researchers studied how polyethylene terephthalate (PET) microplastics affect mice when ingested, tracking where the particles end up in the body. They found that microplastics accumulated in various organs and caused measurable biological effects. The study adds to growing evidence that common plastic types found in food packaging may pose health risks when consumed.

2024 Sarhad Journal of Agriculture 4 citations
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

Comparison of PET tracing and biodistribution between 64Cu-labeled micro-and nano-polystyrene in a murine inhalation model

Using radioactive copper labeling and PET imaging, researchers tracked where inhaled micro- and nano-sized polystyrene particles travel in the body, finding that nanoplastics distributed more widely to organs than microplastics after lung exposure. This is significant for understanding the health risks of airborne plastic particles, which people inhale daily from synthetic textiles, dust, and urban air.

2023 Research Square (Research Square)
Article Tier 2

Numerical Study towards In Vivo Tracking of Micro-/Nanoplastic Based on X-ray Fluorescence Imaging

Researchers conducted numerical simulations to evaluate X-ray fluorescence imaging as a method for tracking micro- and nanoplastic particles inside living organisms. The study found that by labeling plastic particles with detectable metal elements, it would be possible to map their distribution across organs with high spatial resolution. The approach could provide precise measurements of how plastic particles cross biological barriers and accumulate in tissues over time.

2024 Biomedicines 3 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

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

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

Comparison of PET tracing and biodistribution between 64Cu-labeled micro-and nano-polystyrene in a murine inhalation model

Using advanced PET imaging in mice, researchers tracked where inhaled micro and nanoplastics traveled in the body and found that nano-sized particles cleared from the lungs much faster than micro-sized ones but accumulated more in the liver, spleen, and other organs. Micro-sized particles stayed in the lungs longer, with peak retention at 24 hours, while nano-sized particles spread quickly throughout the body. This is one of the first studies to directly visualize how inhaled plastic particles distribute through living mammals, confirming that smaller particles pose a greater risk of reaching organs beyond the lungs.

2024 Particle and Fibre Toxicology 19 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

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.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
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

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

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

Quantification of poly(ethylene terephthalate) micro- and nanoparticle contaminants in marine sediments and other environmental matrices

Researchers developed and validated a method to quantify PET (polyethylene terephthalate) micro- and nanoparticles in marine sediments and other environmental matrices using chemical digestion and fluorescence detection. This polymer-specific quantification approach addresses a gap in methods for tracking one of the world's most widely used plastics in the environment.

2019 Journal of Hazardous Materials 65 citations
Article Tier 2

Control of Nanoparticle Size of Intrinsically Fluorescent PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) Particles Produced Through Nanoprecipitation

Researchers developed a method to create fluorescent PET (polyethylene terephthalate) nanoparticles of controlled size for use as traceable nanoplastic models in laboratory studies. These standardized particles allow scientists to better track and study how nanoplastics behave in cells and biological systems, addressing a key gap in our understanding of nanoplastic exposure risks.

2025 Molecules 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Iodine-131 radiolabeled polyvinylchloride: A potential radiotracer for micro and nanoplastics bioaccumulation and biodistribution study in organisms

Researchers developed a method to radiolabel polyvinyl chloride with iodine-131 for use as a radiotracer to study microplastic bioaccumulation and biodistribution in organisms. The study demonstrated successful preparation of radiolabeled PVC particles, offering a highly sensitive nuclear technique for tracking the fate of micro- and nanoplastics in biological systems.

2023 Marine Pollution Bulletin 22 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