Measuring Nanoplastics with TRPS: A Precise Approach to a Growing Concern

Nanoplastics—tiny plastic particles smaller than 1 micron—are a rapidly emerging environmental threat. Found in oceans, soil, air, and even the human brain, they originate from the breakdown of larger plastics and are increasingly linked to ecological and health risks.

Why It Matters

• Recent studies show nanoplastics interfering with human brain function and plant photosynthesis, potentially reducing global crop yields by over 100 million tons annually.
• Despite growing concern, current technologies struggle to accurately detect and measure nanoplastics, especially those smaller than 100 nm.

Enter TRPS: Tunable Resistive Pulse Sensing

TRPS is a high-precision technique that measures particles as they pass through a tunable nanopore. It provides:

• Size, via electrical pulse magnitude
• Concentration, through pulse frequency
• Surface charge (zeta potential), via pulse duration

Izon’s latest system, Exoid, extends TRPS detection down to 40 nm—ideal for nanoplastic research.

How TRPS Stands Out

Compared to other techniques (like DLS or NTA), TRPS delivers:

• Greater resolution of mixed particle sizes
• Accurate concentration measurements (within ±10%)
• Reproducibility even in complex environmental samples

Conclusion

TRPS offers a scalable, precise way to quantify nanoplastics—crucial for understanding their environmental impact and guiding future regulation and research.