Micelles Preconcentrate Nanoplastics for Detection by Raman Optical Tweezers

Project goal:  The aim of the project is to develop a micelle-assisted method for preconcentrating nanoplastics in water and improving their detection by Raman Optical Tweezers, with the long-term goal of supporting simpler and more portable tools for environmental monitoring.

Project description: This project explores a new approach for detecting nanoplastics in water. Nanoplastics are extremely small plastic particles that are difficult to identify with standard analytical methods, especially at low concentrations. The project will investigate whether surfactant micelles – tiny molecular assemblies commonly used to collect hydrophobic substances in water – can help concentrate nanoplastic particles into small local “hotspots”. These enriched particles will then be analyzed using Raman Optical Tweezers, enabling faster, label-free, and noninvasive detection of nanoplastics in aqueous samples.

BioSense role on the project: BioSense Institute will contribute expertise in lipid/surfactant assemblies, micelles, and colloidal systems, applying this knowledge to the chemical preconcentration of nanoplastics in water. The BioSense team will focus on selecting and optimizing micelle-forming systems that can promote local enrichment of nanoplastic particles, while avoiding uncontrolled aggregation. BioSense will also contribute to sample preparation, surfactant screening, and interpretation of nanoplastic–micelle interactions, supporting the development of a faster and more efficient Raman-based detection workflow.