Identification of Pristine and Protein Corona Coated Micro- and Nanoplastic Particles with a Colorimetric Sensor Array

A colorimetric sensor array has been developed to differentiate various micro- and nanoplastic particles (MNPs), both pristine and those coated with a protein corona, in buffered water. This array utilizes five distinct cross-reactive chemo-responsive dyes, which exhibit changes in visible optical absorbance upon interaction with MNPs. Although no single dye responds exclusively to either pristine or protein-corona-coated MNPs, the collective shifts in color across all dyes create a unique molecular fingerprint for each type of MNP. This method demonstrates high sensitivity, capable of detecting MNPs of various sizes (50 nm, 100 nm, and 2 μm) and differentiating them from controls at concentrations as low as 10 ng/mL using standard chemometric techniques, ensuring accurate results without error. Additionally, the method can effectively distinguish between pristine and protein-corona-coated polystyrene MNPs. This colorimetric approach offers a rapid, cost-effective, and accurate method for monitoring MNP pollution and assessing their prior interactions with biological systems.