From polystyrene (PS) to polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) – there are numerous kinds of plastic in our everyday lives. With the rapid increase in plastic types, the number of different microplastic particles has also increased worldwide.
Researchers have been investigating the interaction between microplastics and the environment for many years. The main focus has been on standardised and consistent particle types. These particles are often found in the environment as part of plastic waste and can be optimally utilised for experiments.
However, a research team from the University of Bayreuth and the Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden discovered in a study from January 2024 that different microplastic particles react differently with cells. Even nominally identical particles can have different effects. The decisive factor is the zeta potential on the surface of different particles. This electrical charge influences the cell membrane interaction, the stability of the particles in the solution used, the adsorption of biomolecules, the influence on cellular uptake and the change in biocompatibility.
Based on these results, research into the interactions of microplastics must now be rethought. The previous risk assessments on aquatic or terrestrial environmental systems must potentially be re-evaluated. Health effects on the human organism may also require a new assessment in some cases. This may have an impact on previous measurement methods used to analyse microplastics. Here, certain plastic particles are often used as a reference material.
Due to the consistent physical size of all microplastic particles, the high effectiveness of our aluminum-coated track-etched membranes i3 TrackPor PA and i3 TrackPor PAR remains unaffected by this research result. The smooth and homogeneous surface facilitates the analysis of different microplastic particles and provides optimal results in Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) microscopy, RAMAN microscopy and LDIR microscopy due to the reflective aluminum coating. The membranes remain stable over a long filtration period.