Submicron- and nanoplastic detection at low micro- to nanogram concentrations using gold nanostar-based...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Environmental Science
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Submicron and nanoplastic particles (<100 nm) are increasingly detected in diverse matrices like marine environments, food, and beverages.
• Existing analytical techniques struggle to detect these small plastic particles at anticipated low concentrations.
• Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) offers potential for enhanced signal detection of plastics below conventional resolution limits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create and evaluate SERS substrates utilizing gold nanostars for the detection of submicron and nanoplastics.
• To determine the sensitivity limits for detecting specific nanoplastic particles using the developed SERS substrates.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of SERS substrates using gold nanostars.
• Assessment of substrate performance for detecting polystyrene (33 nm) and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (36 nm) nanoplastics.
• Analysis of detection limits for various plastic particle sizes, including polypropylene (121 nm) and polyethylene (126 nm).

Main Results:

• Detection of 33 nm polystyrene down to 1.25 μg mL⁻¹.
• Detection of 36 nm poly(ethylene terephthalate) down to 5 μg mL⁻¹.
• Demonstrated potential for nanoplastic detection, with performance varying based on plastic properties.

Conclusions:

• Gold nanostar-based SERS substrates show significant promise for sensitive nanoplastic detection.
• The analytical performance is influenced by the specific chemical and physical properties of the plastic particles.
• This technique offers a viable approach for analyzing micro- and nanoplastics in complex sample matrices.