Exploring Innovative Approaches for the Analysis of Micro- and Nanoplastics: Breakthroughs in (Bio)Sensing Techniques
Plastic pollution, particularly from microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs), has become a critical environmental and health concern due to their widespread distribution, persistence, and potential toxicity. MPs and NPs originate from primary sources, such as cosmetic microspheres or synthetic fi...
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MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Biosensors |
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| author | Denise Margarita Rivera-Rivera Gabriela Elizabeth Quintanilla-Villanueva Donato Luna-Moreno Araceli Sánchez-Álvarez José Manuel Rodríguez-Delgado Erika Iveth Cedillo-González Garima Kaushik Juan Francisco Villarreal-Chiu Melissa Marlene Rodríguez-Delgado |
| author_facet | Denise Margarita Rivera-Rivera Gabriela Elizabeth Quintanilla-Villanueva Donato Luna-Moreno Araceli Sánchez-Álvarez José Manuel Rodríguez-Delgado Erika Iveth Cedillo-González Garima Kaushik Juan Francisco Villarreal-Chiu Melissa Marlene Rodríguez-Delgado |
| author_sort | Denise Margarita Rivera-Rivera |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Plastic pollution, particularly from microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs), has become a critical environmental and health concern due to their widespread distribution, persistence, and potential toxicity. MPs and NPs originate from primary sources, such as cosmetic microspheres or synthetic fibers, and secondary fragmentation of larger plastics through environmental degradation. These particles, typically less than 5 mm, are found globally, from deep seabeds to human tissues, and are known to adsorb and release harmful pollutants, exacerbating ecological and health risks. Effective detection and quantification of MPs and NPs are essential for understanding and mitigating their impacts. Current analytical methods include physical and chemical techniques. Physical methods, such as optical and electron microscopy, provide morphological details but often lack specificity and are time-intensive. Chemical analyses, such as Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy, offer molecular specificity but face challenges with smaller particle sizes and complex matrices. Thermal analytical methods, including pyrolysis gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS), provide compositional insights but are destructive and limited in morphological analysis. Emerging (bio)sensing technologies show promise in addressing these challenges. Electrochemical biosensors offer cost-effective, portable, and sensitive platforms, leveraging principles such as voltammetry and impedance to detect MPs and their adsorbed pollutants. Plasmonic techniques, including surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), provide high sensitivity and specificity through nanostructure-enhanced detection. Fluorescent biosensors utilizing microbial or enzymatic elements enable the real-time monitoring of plastic degradation products, such as terephthalic acid from polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Advancements in these innovative approaches pave the way for more accurate, scalable, and environmentally compatible detection solutions, contributing to improved monitoring and remediation strategies. This review highlights the potential of biosensors as advanced analytical methods, including a section on prospects that address the challenges that could lead to significant advancements in environmental monitoring, highlighting the necessity of testing the new sensing developments under real conditions (composition/matrix of the samples), which are often overlooked, as well as the study of peptides as a novel recognition element in microplastic sensing. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1b1e2f545f804706a233c493f1a76687 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2079-6374 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Biosensors |
| spelling | doaj-art-1b1e2f545f804706a233c493f1a766872025-01-24T13:25:32ZengMDPI AGBiosensors2079-63742025-01-011514410.3390/bios15010044Exploring Innovative Approaches for the Analysis of Micro- and Nanoplastics: Breakthroughs in (Bio)Sensing TechniquesDenise Margarita Rivera-Rivera0Gabriela Elizabeth Quintanilla-Villanueva1Donato Luna-Moreno2Araceli Sánchez-Álvarez3José Manuel Rodríguez-Delgado4Erika Iveth Cedillo-González5Garima Kaushik6Juan Francisco Villarreal-Chiu7Melissa Marlene Rodríguez-Delgado8Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Av. Universidad S/N Ciudad Universitaria, San Nicolás de los Garza 66455, Nuevo León, MexicoCentro de Investigaciones en Óptica AC, Div. de Fotónica, Loma del Bosque 115, Lomas del Campestre, León 37150, Guanajuato, MexicoCentro de Investigaciones en Óptica AC, Div. de Fotónica, Loma del Bosque 115, Lomas del Campestre, León 37150, Guanajuato, MexicoUniversidad Tecnológica de León, Electromecánica Industrial, Blvd. Universidad Tecnológica 225, Col. San Carlos, León 37670, Guanajuato, MexicoTecnológico de Monterrey, School of Engineering and Sciences, Av. Eugenio Garza Sada Sur 2501, Col. Tecnológico, Monterrey 64849, Nuevo León, MexicoDepartment of Engineering “Enzo Ferrari”, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via P. Vivarelli 10/1, 41125 Modena, ItalyDepartment of Environmental Science, School of Earth Sciences, Central University of Rajasthan, Ajmer 305817, Rajasthan, IndiaUniversidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Av. Universidad S/N Ciudad Universitaria, San Nicolás de los Garza 66455, Nuevo León, MexicoUniversidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Av. Universidad S/N Ciudad Universitaria, San Nicolás de los Garza 66455, Nuevo León, MexicoPlastic pollution, particularly from microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs), has become a critical environmental and health concern due to their widespread distribution, persistence, and potential toxicity. MPs and NPs originate from primary sources, such as cosmetic microspheres or synthetic fibers, and secondary fragmentation of larger plastics through environmental degradation. These particles, typically less than 5 mm, are found globally, from deep seabeds to human tissues, and are known to adsorb and release harmful pollutants, exacerbating ecological and health risks. Effective detection and quantification of MPs and NPs are essential for understanding and mitigating their impacts. Current analytical methods include physical and chemical techniques. Physical methods, such as optical and electron microscopy, provide morphological details but often lack specificity and are time-intensive. Chemical analyses, such as Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy, offer molecular specificity but face challenges with smaller particle sizes and complex matrices. Thermal analytical methods, including pyrolysis gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS), provide compositional insights but are destructive and limited in morphological analysis. Emerging (bio)sensing technologies show promise in addressing these challenges. Electrochemical biosensors offer cost-effective, portable, and sensitive platforms, leveraging principles such as voltammetry and impedance to detect MPs and their adsorbed pollutants. Plasmonic techniques, including surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), provide high sensitivity and specificity through nanostructure-enhanced detection. Fluorescent biosensors utilizing microbial or enzymatic elements enable the real-time monitoring of plastic degradation products, such as terephthalic acid from polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Advancements in these innovative approaches pave the way for more accurate, scalable, and environmentally compatible detection solutions, contributing to improved monitoring and remediation strategies. This review highlights the potential of biosensors as advanced analytical methods, including a section on prospects that address the challenges that could lead to significant advancements in environmental monitoring, highlighting the necessity of testing the new sensing developments under real conditions (composition/matrix of the samples), which are often overlooked, as well as the study of peptides as a novel recognition element in microplastic sensing.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6374/15/1/44microplasticsnanoplasticsbiosensorselectrochemical sensorphotonic sensor |
| spellingShingle | Denise Margarita Rivera-Rivera Gabriela Elizabeth Quintanilla-Villanueva Donato Luna-Moreno Araceli Sánchez-Álvarez José Manuel Rodríguez-Delgado Erika Iveth Cedillo-González Garima Kaushik Juan Francisco Villarreal-Chiu Melissa Marlene Rodríguez-Delgado Exploring Innovative Approaches for the Analysis of Micro- and Nanoplastics: Breakthroughs in (Bio)Sensing Techniques Biosensors microplastics nanoplastics biosensors electrochemical sensor photonic sensor |
| title | Exploring Innovative Approaches for the Analysis of Micro- and Nanoplastics: Breakthroughs in (Bio)Sensing Techniques |
| title_full | Exploring Innovative Approaches for the Analysis of Micro- and Nanoplastics: Breakthroughs in (Bio)Sensing Techniques |
| title_fullStr | Exploring Innovative Approaches for the Analysis of Micro- and Nanoplastics: Breakthroughs in (Bio)Sensing Techniques |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring Innovative Approaches for the Analysis of Micro- and Nanoplastics: Breakthroughs in (Bio)Sensing Techniques |
| title_short | Exploring Innovative Approaches for the Analysis of Micro- and Nanoplastics: Breakthroughs in (Bio)Sensing Techniques |
| title_sort | exploring innovative approaches for the analysis of micro and nanoplastics breakthroughs in bio sensing techniques |
| topic | microplastics nanoplastics biosensors electrochemical sensor photonic sensor |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6374/15/1/44 |
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