{"id":8836,"date":"2024-10-29T14:45:37","date_gmt":"2024-10-29T14:45:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/?p=8836"},"modified":"2024-10-29T14:45:38","modified_gmt":"2024-10-29T14:45:38","slug":"groundbreaking-imaging-technology-detects-microplastics-in-living-organisms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/groundbreaking-imaging-technology-detects-microplastics-in-living-organisms\/","title":{"rendered":"Groundbreaking Imaging Technology Detects Microplastics in Living Organisms"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-blockquote uagb-block-e7eb3fc3 uagb-blockquote__skin-border uagb-blockquote__stack-img-none\"><blockquote class=\"uagb-blockquote\"><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__content\">A team of scientists has developed a state-of-the-art mass spectrometry imaging method to detect and quantify microplastics in living organisms, offering the potential to better understand their environmental and health impacts.<\/div><footer><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__author-wrap uagb-blockquote__author-at-left\"><\/div><\/footer><\/blockquote><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-space-between is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-b0ffac9c wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><div style=\"font-size:16px\" class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-post-author\"><div class=\"wp-block-post-author__content\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-author__name\">The University Network<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share uagb-social-share__outer-wrap uagb-social-share__layout-horizontal uagb-block-ee584a31\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-ec619ce7\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"facebook\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M504 256C504 119 393 8 256 8S8 119 8 256c0 123.8 90.69 226.4 209.3 245V327.7h-63V256h63v-54.64c0-62.15 37-96.48 93.67-96.48 27.14 0 55.52 4.84 55.52 4.84v61h-31.28c-30.8 0-40.41 19.12-40.41 38.73V256h68.78l-11 71.69h-57.78V501C413.3 482.4 504 379.8 504 256z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-32d99934\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"twitter\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-1d136f14\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?url=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"linkedin\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M416 32H31.9C14.3 32 0 46.5 0 64.3v383.4C0 465.5 14.3 480 31.9 480H416c17.6 0 32-14.5 32-32.3V64.3c0-17.8-14.4-32.3-32-32.3zM135.4 416H69V202.2h66.5V416zm-33.2-243c-21.3 0-38.5-17.3-38.5-38.5S80.9 96 102.2 96c21.2 0 38.5 17.3 38.5 38.5 0 21.3-17.2 38.5-38.5 38.5zm282.1 243h-66.4V312c0-24.8-.5-56.7-34.5-56.7-34.6 0-39.9 27-39.9 54.9V416h-66.4V202.2h63.7v29.2h.9c8.9-16.8 30.6-34.5 62.9-34.5 67.2 0 79.7 44.3 79.7 101.9V416z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Plastic pollution is an escalating crisis, with microplastics infiltrating ecosystems and posing potential health risks to humans and wildlife alike. A new study, led by researchers from Nankai University in China and the University of Massachusetts, has pioneered a groundbreaking mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) technique that could revolutionize how we detect and understand microplastics within living organisms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Microplastics, tiny plastic particles less than five millimeters in diameter, are ubiquitous in nature. They have been detected in various species, ranging from marine life to terrestrial organisms and even in human tissues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Traditional imaging methods, like fluorescence and electron microscopy, often require extensive sample preparation or artificial labeling, which can introduce errors and fail to provide a comprehensive picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The new study, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S2772985024000486?via%3Dihub\" title=\"\">published<\/a> in the journal Eco-Environment &amp; Health, introduces a novel MSI approach that combines matrix-assisted laser desorption\/ionization (MALDI) with time-of-flight (TOF) or Orbitrap mass analyzers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:23px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"636\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Advanced-Mass-Spectrometry-Imaging.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8862\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Advanced-Mass-Spectrometry-Imaging.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Advanced-Mass-Spectrometry-Imaging-300x273.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Credit<\/em>: Eco-Environment &amp; Health<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:16px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This technique facilitates high-resolution, in situ imaging of microplastics within biological tissues, bypassing the need for labeling and preserving sample integrity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis approach offers unprecedented insights into the dynamics of microplastics within biological systems. By precisely mapping and quantifying microplastics in situ, we can better understand their risks to organisms and ecosystems, opening new avenues for research into the health and environmental implications of plastic pollution,\u201d lead researcher Lei Wang, a professor and department chair of environmental science at Nankai University, said in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurekalert.org\/news-releases\/1062855\" title=\"\">news release<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This advanced MSI technique addresses the limitations of traditional methods by enabling direct ionization and analysis of plastic macromolecules in situ. The integration of MALDI with TOF or Orbitrap analyzers delivers detailed spatial distribution maps and chemical data, enabling a more accurate understanding of the accumulation, movement and transformation of microplastics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The implications of this technology are vast, offering significant benefits for environmental and health sciences. By providing a clear picture of where and how microplastics are distributed within organisms, this technique can inform regulatory frameworks and pollution control measures, ultimately aiding in the protection of both public health and ecosystems.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Moreover, this new capability aligns with the \u201cOne Health\u201d concept, highlighting the interconnectedness of environmental and human health. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As microplastics continue to pose a significant threat, breakthroughs in detection and analysis methods such as this could pave the way for more effective mitigation strategies and a deeper understanding of the long-term effects of plastic pollution on living organisms.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Plastic pollution is an escalating crisis, with microplastics infiltrating ecosystems and posing potential health risks to humans and wildlife alike. A new study, led by researchers from Nankai University in China and the University of Massachusetts, has pioneered a groundbreaking mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) technique that could revolutionize how we detect and understand microplastics within [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"single-no-separators","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[12,10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8836","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-health","category-sustainability"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"The University Network","author_link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/author\/funky_junkie\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Plastic pollution is an escalating crisis, with microplastics infiltrating ecosystems and posing potential health risks to humans and wildlife alike. A new study, led by researchers from Nankai University in China and the University of Massachusetts, has pioneered a groundbreaking mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) technique that could revolutionize how we detect and understand microplastics within&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8836","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8836"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8836\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8870,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8836\/revisions\/8870"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8836"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8836"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8836"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}