Seeing the Unseen: Chemical and 3D Imaging Insights into
Microplastics in Biological Matrices

k 2026

Seeing the Unseen: Chemical and 3D Imaging Insights into Microplastics in Biological Matrices

BISKUPIČ, Jan; Jana HLOŽKOVÁ; Peter SCHEER; Petra PROCHÁZKOVÁ; Tomáš ZIKMUND et al.

Základní údaje

Originální název

Seeing the Unseen: Chemical and 3D Imaging Insights into Microplastics in Biological Matrices

Autoři

BISKUPIČ, Jan ; Jana HLOŽKOVÁ; Peter SCHEER ; Petra PROCHÁZKOVÁ; Tomáš ZIKMUND; Lucie ŠUDOMOVÁ; Gabriela KALČÍKOVÁ; Jozef KAISER a Michaela KUCHYNKA

Vydání

2026 Winter Conference On Plasma Spectrochemistry, Tucson, USA, 2026

Další údaje

Jazyk

angličtina

Typ výsledku

Prezentace na konferencích

Obor

10406 Analytical chemistry

Odkazy

odkaz na konferenci

Označené pro přenos do RIV

Štítky

ÚCh, ÚChL, ÚFTo

Příznaky

Mezinárodní význam, Recenzováno

Změněno: 21. 1. 2026 08:25, Mgr. Jan Biskupič

Anotace

V originále

The pervasive release of plastic debris into the environment has emerged as a critical long‑term challenge, particularly in the detection and quantification of microplastics (MPs) within diverse environmental matrices and biological systems. MPs originate from multiple anthropogenic sources, including seafood, food additives, packaging, and industrial or agricultural products. Although their presence is now well‑known in environmental media and biological systems, the mechanisms governing their distribution and the full extent of their toxicological effects in humans remain insufficiently understood. Mounting evidence suggests that MPs ingested via contaminated food or packaging may adversely impact both ecosystem integrity and human health [1]. Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA‑ICP‑MS) has demonstrated strong potential for identifying polymer modifications [2] and detecting embedded metal markers [3]. However, its direct application to MPs analysis has thus far been largely limited to tracing adsorbed metals on particle surfaces [4]. This work seeks to expand the analytical scope of LA‑ICP‑MS by enabling high‑resolution detection and imaging of MPs within biological tissues, thereby improving our ability to monitor their bio-distribution and assess potential health risks. This presentation proposes a combined methodology integrating element‑specific imaging from LA‑ICP‑MS with micro‑computed tomography (µCT) volumetry to establish a robust analytical framework for precise characterization and spatial mapping of MPs in organ systems. As a proof‑of‑concept, two size fractions of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) MPs were introduced into homogenized tissue, and across the entire organs, to simulate realistic accumulation scenarios. MPs were visualized through direct detection of 121Sb and 59Co, incorporated as polymer additives, enabling simultaneous chemical identification and three‑dimensional localization. Furthermore, Sb and Co content were quantified via in-house matrix-matched standards of PET. This integrated approach offers a promising pathway toward a “gold‑standard” protocol for MPs characterization in biological matrices.

Návaznosti

MUNI/A/1450/2024, interní kód MU

Název: Detekce mikroplastů v organismu: od chemické charakteristiky po 3D zobrazení

Investor: Masarykova univerzita, Detekce mikroplastů v organismu: od chemické charakteristiky po 3D zobrazení

Citovat

BISKUPIČ, Jan; Jana HLOŽKOVÁ; Peter SCHEER; Petra PROCHÁZKOVÁ; Tomáš ZIKMUND; Lucie ŠUDOMOVÁ; Gabriela KALČÍKOVÁ; Jozef KAISER a Michaela KUCHYNKA. Seeing the Unseen: Chemical and 3D Imaging Insights into Microplastics in Biological Matrices. In 2026 Winter Conference On Plasma Spectrochemistry, Tucson, USA. 2026.

@proceedings{2548879,
   author = {Biskupič, Jan and Hložková, Jana and Scheer, Peter and Procházková, Petra and Zikmund, Tomáš and Šudomová, Lucie and Kalčíková, Gabriela and Kaiser, Jozef and Kuchynka, Michaela},
   booktitle = {2026 Winter Conference On Plasma Spectrochemistry, Tucson, USA},
   language = {eng},
   title = {Seeing the Unseen: Chemical and 3D Imaging Insights into Microplastics in Biological Matrices},
   url = {https://iasa.world/winter-plasma-conference},
   year = {2026}
}

TY  - CONF
ID  - 2548879
AU  - Biskupič, Jan - Hložková, Jana - Scheer, Peter - Procházková, Petra - Zikmund, Tomáš - Šudomová, Lucie - Kalčíková, Gabriela - Kaiser, Jozef - Kuchynka, Michaela
PY  - 2026
TI  - Seeing the Unseen: Chemical and 3D Imaging Insights into Microplastics in Biological Matrices
UR  - https://iasa.world/winter-plasma-conference
N2  - The pervasive release of plastic debris into the environment has emerged as a critical long‑term challenge, particularly in the detection and quantification of microplastics (MPs) within diverse environmental matrices and biological systems. MPs originate from multiple anthropogenic sources, including seafood, food additives, packaging, and industrial or agricultural products. Although their presence is now well‑known in environmental media and biological systems, the mechanisms governing their distribution and the full extent of their toxicological effects in humans remain insufficiently understood. Mounting evidence suggests that MPs ingested via contaminated food or packaging may adversely impact both ecosystem integrity and human health [1]. Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA‑ICP‑MS) has demonstrated strong potential for identifying polymer modifications [2] and detecting embedded metal markers [3]. However, its direct application to MPs analysis has thus far been largely limited to tracing adsorbed metals on particle surfaces [4]. This work seeks to expand the analytical scope of LA‑ICP‑MS by enabling high‑resolution detection and imaging of MPs within biological tissues, thereby improving our ability to monitor their bio-distribution and assess potential health risks. This presentation proposes a combined methodology integrating element‑specific imaging from LA‑ICP‑MS with micro‑computed tomography (µCT) volumetry to establish a robust analytical framework for precise characterization and spatial mapping of MPs in organ systems. As a proof‑of‑concept, two size fractions of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) MPs were introduced into homogenized tissue, and across the entire organs, to simulate realistic accumulation scenarios. MPs were visualized through direct detection of 121Sb and 59Co, incorporated as polymer additives, enabling simultaneous chemical identification and three‑dimensional localization. Furthermore, Sb and Co content were quantified via in-house matrix-matched standards of PET. This integrated approach offers a promising pathway toward a “gold‑standard” protocol for MPs characterization in biological matrices.
ER  -

BISKUPIČ, Jan; Jana HLOŽKOVÁ; Peter SCHEER; Petra PROCHÁZKOVÁ; Tomáš ZIKMUND; Lucie ŠUDOMOVÁ; Gabriela KALČÍKOVÁ; Jozef KAISER a Michaela KUCHYNKA. Seeing the Unseen: Chemical and 3D Imaging Insights into Microplastics in Biological Matrices. In \textit{2026 Winter Conference On Plasma Spectrochemistry, Tucson, USA}. 2026.

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