Premium
Photoluminescence‐Based Techniques for the Detection of Micro‐ and Nanoplastics
Author(s) -
Capolungo Chiara,
Genovese Damiano,
Montalti Marco,
Rampazzo Enrico,
Zaccheroni Nelsi,
Prodi Luca
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/chem.202102692
Subject(s) - microplastics , nanotechnology , context (archaeology) , photoluminescence , human health , biochemical engineering , chemistry , environmental science , biocompatibility , environmental pollution , environmental chemistry , computer science , materials science , biology , environmental protection , organic chemistry , engineering , optoelectronics , medicine , paleontology , environmental health
The growing numbers related to plastic pollution are impressive, with ca. 70 % of produced plastic (>350 tonnes/year) being indiscriminately wasted in the environment. The most dangerous forms of plastic pollution for biota and human health are micro‐ and nano‐plastics (MNPs), which are ubiquitous and more bioavailable. Their elimination is extremely difficult, but the first challenge is their detection since existing protocols are unsatisfactory for microplastics and mostly absent for nanoplastics. After a discussion of the state of the art for MNPs detection, we specifically revise the techniques based on photoluminescence that represent very promising solutions for this problem. In this context, Nile Red staining is the most used strategy and we show here its pros and limitations, but we also discuss other more recent approaches, such as the use of fluorogenic probes based on perylene‐bisimide and on fluorogenic hyaluronan nanogels, with the added values of biocompatibility and water solubility.