Evaluating combined analytical techniques to unravel nanoplastic exposure and guide future research

As emerging contaminants, nanoplastics present significant analytical challenges due to their small size, diverse shapes, wide-ranging polymeric compositions, complex behaviour in environmental and biological matrices and low concentrations in various media. These factors underscore the critical importance of appropriate methods to ensure accurate chemical characterization of nanoplastics. A suitable analytical approach requires a multi-technique strategy to assess key nanoparticles properties. A combination of common and advanced analytical techniques, including Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (NTA), and Asymmetric Flow Field-Flow Fractionation (AF4) coupled with UV/VIS, MultiAngle Light Scattering (MALS) and Quasi-Elastic Light Scattering (QELS), was used to characterize reference materials of polystyrene (PS), polycaprolactone (PCL), polymethacrylate (PMA), and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) particles. Evaluating the advantages, limitations and quality control of these techniques will improve the reliability and comparability of results, contributing to expanding contemporary research on nanoplastic exposure.