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Can microplastics be visualised with MRI?
M Imperatori1, E J I Hoeijmakers2, L W M Vergoossen3
1Department of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Purpose:
Nanoplastics and microplastics (NMPs) are increasingly detected in human tissues. Currently, NMP tissue concentrations can only be detected using post-mortem, destructive techniques, severely limiting research into possible effects on the human body. Whether NMPs are MR-visible, and what implications NMPs have for medical imaging, remains unknown.
Method:
The impact of NMPs on MR imaging was investigated by utilising a phantom containing several concentrations of NMPs, suspended in agar solution, as well as a phantom containing 3D-printed plastic (PETG) plastic flakes, similarly suspended in agar.
Results:
While NMPs were not apparent on clinical T1 and T2 weighted scans, NMP aggregates were observed on magnetic susceptibility (T2∗ weighted) scans, appearing as hypointensities. Susceptibility-weighted imaging and computational modelling show that NMP aggregates create localised magnetic field inhomogeneities, acting as magnetic susceptibility dipoles and appearing as millimetre-sized hypointensities on T2∗ images.
Conclusions:
NMP aggregates are detectable on T2∗ MR imaging and may potentially complicate the clinical interpretation of MR images.
Insights
Nanoplastics and microplastics (NMPs) are detectable using T2*-weighted MRI scans, appearing as hypointensities. This discovery may impact the clinical interpretation of medical imaging results.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Materials Science
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Nanoplastics and microplastics (NMPs) are increasingly found in human tissues.
- Current detection methods for NMPs in tissues are destructive and post-mortem, limiting research.
- The visibility of NMPs in magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and their impact on medical imaging are unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if nanoplastics and microplastics (NMPs) are visible using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.
- To determine the implications of NMPs for medical imaging interpretation.
Main Methods:
- Utilized MR imaging phantoms with varying concentrations of NMPs suspended in agar.
- Included phantoms with 3D-printed plastic flakes (PETG) in agar.
- Employed susceptibility-weighted imaging (T2* scans) and computational modeling.
Main Results:
- NMPs were not visible on standard T1 and T2 weighted MR scans.
- NMP aggregates appeared as hypointensities on T2*-weighted scans.
- Computational modeling confirmed NMP aggregates create localized magnetic field inhomogeneities, acting as magnetic susceptibility dipoles.
Conclusions:
- Nanoplastic and microplastic aggregates are detectable using T2*-weighted MR imaging.
- The presence of NMPs may complicate the clinical interpretation of MR images.
