Papers

61,005 results
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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

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

Fluorescent Dyes for Visualizing Microplastic Particles and Fibers in Laboratory-Based Studies

Researchers developed a heat-mediated dyeing protocol that allows fluorescent dyes to be stably incorporated into a variety of microplastic types and shapes for use in laboratory tracking experiments. The method works across multiple common polymer types and particle morphologies, extending the tool beyond the polystyrene spheres that have dominated previous studies. The protocol enables researchers to better study the environmental fate and biological uptake of realistically shaped microplastics.

2019 Environmental Science & Technology Letters 195 citations
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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

New Fluorophore and Its Applications in Visualizing Polystyrene Nanoplastics in Bean Sprouts and HeLa Cells

A new fluorophore was synthesized and applied to visualize polystyrene nanoplastic uptake in bean sprouts and HeLa cells, demonstrating that the fluorescent probe can track nanoplastic distribution and internalization in both plant and human cell models.

2023 Molecules 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Detection of polystyrene nanoplastics in biological tissues with a fluorescent molecular rotor probe

A fluorescent dye was developed to detect polystyrene nanoplastics in biological tissues, offering a simpler alternative to existing methods. This tool could help scientists better understand how nanoplastics spread through living organisms and accumulate in organs.

2019 Journal of Xenobiotics 37 citations
Article Tier 2

Autofluorescence of Model Polyethylene Terephthalate Nanoplastics for Cell Interaction Studies

Researchers produced model PET nanoplastics through mechanical fragmentation and characterized their autofluorescence properties, enabling label-free tracking of nanoplastic interactions with biological systems without the artifacts introduced by fluorescent dyes.

2022 Nanomaterials 36 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

Dye-Doped Polymeric Microplastics: Light Tools for Bioimaging in Test Organisms

Researchers developed an accessible and inexpensive method to prepare fluorescent polystyrene-co-methyl methacrylate microplastic particles (0.7–9 microns) doped with rhodamine B isothiocyanate or fluorescein isothiocyanate using an osmosis-based protocol. Preliminary tests on duckweeds (Lemna minuta) and insect larvae (Cataclysta lemnata) confirmed that the fluorescent particles are suitable for bioimaging studies of microplastic absorption and adsorption in aquatic organisms.

2023 Polymers 4 citations
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

Fluorescent nanoplastics: What steps are needed towards a representative toolkit?

This review critically examines strategies for creating and using fluorescent nanoplastics in research, noting that commonly used commercial polystyrene beads are not representative of environmental nanoplastics. The study recommends alternative approaches for producing more realistic fluorescent model particles and provides a roadmap to help researchers select appropriate methods for their specific applications.

2025 Microplastics and Nanoplastics 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics Classifications, Toxicity, and Visual Detection Methods Based on Fluorescent Materials

This review classifies microplastics by source, polymer type, and size, summarizes their toxicological effects on ecosystems and human health, and evaluates visual detection methods based on fluorescence imaging and spectroscopic techniques for environmental MP identification.

2025 Journal of Fluorescence
Article Tier 2

Fabrication of Nylon-6 and Nylon-11 Nanoplastics and Evaluation in Mammalian Cells

Researchers fabricated well-characterized nylon-6 and nylon-11 nanoplastics and evaluated their effects on mammalian cells, addressing a critical gap since most toxicity studies rely on polystyrene beads that do not represent the diversity of plastics found in the environment.

2022 Nanomaterials 39 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

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

Fluorescent carbon dot embedded polystyrene nanoplastic: In vivo toxicity assessment and bioaccumulation study in Daphnia magna

Researchers synthesized fluorescent carbon dot-embedded polystyrene nanoplastics as trackable model particles and used them to assess in vivo toxicity in a biological test system. The fluorescent particles enabled real-time visualization of nanoplastic distribution and associated cellular toxicity.

2024
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