Multimodal micro- and nanoplastics analytics in plant matrix, BPS2024
Abstract
Plastics components are degrading over time to small entities mostly known as microplastics (MP). Microplastics particles (MPPs) (by definition <5 mm) can enter the human food chain on different levels. MPPs have been found in several organisms and human heart tissue. MPPs also occur in the plant world. MPPs can be analyzed by light microscopy (LM). The different MP hydrocarbons distinguish from biomaterial matrices. But the degradation doesn’t stop. Microplastics can degrade further to nanoparticles (NPs), being smaller than cells. These nanoplastics particles (NPPs) require higher efforts to be detected. Electron microscopy (EM) is suitable to depict those nanoscale regions. Metal nanoparticles (MNPs) are often well visible in bulk biomaterial with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). But polymeric nanoparticles (PNPs) are more difficult to be detected in biomaterials than MNPs. Dependent on experiment and imaging conditions, PNPs can be distinguished from bulk biomaterial with SEM. Thus, we approach this issue with correlative microscopy (CM) to develop reliable NPP analytics. Using a plant model system with PNPs, combining LM and fluorescence microscopy (FM) with SEM data in a correlative light and electron microscopy (CLEM) approach, non-uniform patch formation of NPPs in- and outside the biomaterial matrix is observed. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), Raman, micro-computer tomography (uCT), ultramicrotomy (UM) and focused ion beam (FIB) data provide additional information. Specific discovery of contaminated plant biomaterial areas is thus possible with single NP resolution. The investigation of the biomaterial matrix behaviour exposed to different PNP sizes and materials is so enabled. The procedural correlative microscopy approach reveals that PNPs seem to be tightly attached to the biomaterial. It indicates further that basic food cleaning procedures might be insufficient for PNP or NPPs removal. The model system can reliably detect PNPs, showing solution pathways in general NPPs analytics.
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| Titel | Multimodal micro- and nanoplastics analytics in plant matrix, BPS2024 |
|---|---|
| Medien | Biophysical Journal |
| Heft | 123 |
| Band | 2024 |
| Verfasser | J. Wissler, Philipp Häfner, Prof. Dr. Hans-Achim Reimann |
| Seiten | 3 | 419a |
| Veröffentlichungsdatum | 08.02.2025 |
| Zitation | Wissler, J.; Häfner, Philipp; Reimann, Hans-Achim (2025): Multimodal micro- and nanoplastics analytics in plant matrix, BPS2024. Biophysical Journal 2024 (123), 3 | 419a. DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2023.11.2551 |