TY - JOUR
T1 - Recent advances and future technologies in nano-microplastics detection
AU - Nene, Ajinkya
AU - Sadeghzade, Sorour
AU - Viaroli, Stefano
AU - Yang, Wenjie
AU - Uchenna, Ucheaga Paul
AU - Kandwal, Abhishek
AU - Liu, Xinghui
AU - Somani, Prakash
AU - Galluzzi, Massimiliano
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2025.
PY - 2025/12
Y1 - 2025/12
N2 - The degradation of mismanaged plastic waste in the environment results in the formation of microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs), which pose significant risks to ecosystems and human health. These particles are pervasive, detected even in remote regions, and can enter the food chain, accumulating in organisms and causing harm depending on factors such as particle load, exposure dose, and the presence of co-contaminants. Detecting and analyzing NMPs present unique challenges, particularly as particle size decreases, making them increasingly difficult to identify. Moreover, the absence of standardized protocols for their detection and analysis further hinders comprehensive assessments of their environmental and biological impacts. This review provides a detailed overview of the latest advancements in technologies for sampling, separation, measurement, and quantification of NMPs. It highlights promising approaches, supported by practical examples from recent studies, while critically addressing persistent challenges in sampling, characterization, and analysis. This work examines cutting-edge developments in nanotechnology-based detection, integrated spectro-microscopic techniques, and AI-driven classification algorithms, offering solutions to bridge gaps in NMP research. By exploring state-of-the-art methodologies and presenting future perspectives, this review provides valuable insights for improving detection capabilities at the micro- and nanoscale, enabling more effective analysis across diverse environmental contexts.
AB - The degradation of mismanaged plastic waste in the environment results in the formation of microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs), which pose significant risks to ecosystems and human health. These particles are pervasive, detected even in remote regions, and can enter the food chain, accumulating in organisms and causing harm depending on factors such as particle load, exposure dose, and the presence of co-contaminants. Detecting and analyzing NMPs present unique challenges, particularly as particle size decreases, making them increasingly difficult to identify. Moreover, the absence of standardized protocols for their detection and analysis further hinders comprehensive assessments of their environmental and biological impacts. This review provides a detailed overview of the latest advancements in technologies for sampling, separation, measurement, and quantification of NMPs. It highlights promising approaches, supported by practical examples from recent studies, while critically addressing persistent challenges in sampling, characterization, and analysis. This work examines cutting-edge developments in nanotechnology-based detection, integrated spectro-microscopic techniques, and AI-driven classification algorithms, offering solutions to bridge gaps in NMP research. By exploring state-of-the-art methodologies and presenting future perspectives, this review provides valuable insights for improving detection capabilities at the micro- and nanoscale, enabling more effective analysis across diverse environmental contexts.
KW - Challenges
KW - Detection
KW - Improvements
KW - Measurements
KW - Nano microplastics (NMPs)
KW - Pretreatment
KW - Sample preparation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85217126768&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1186/s12302-024-01044-y
DO - 10.1186/s12302-024-01044-y
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:85217126768
SN - 2190-4707
VL - 37
JO - Environmental Sciences Europe
JF - Environmental Sciences Europe
IS - 1
M1 - 7
ER -