(Press-News.org)
Microplastic (MP) pollution poses a major concern, especially in aquatic environments, necessitating efficient detection technologies to safeguard marine life as well as human health. However, conventional detection methods like Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy require complex equipment and are often time-consuming, limiting their applicability for real-time monitoring. In this regard, electrochemical sensing methods, specifically those based on metal oxide electrodes, are highly promising for quick and sensitive detection of MPs.
In a new study, a team of researchers led by Professor Sadia Ameen from the Department of Bio-Convergence Science, Jeonbuk National University, Republic of Korea, has systematically reviewed and summarized the paradigm shift in MP detection methods—from expensive and time-consuming spectroscopic analysis to rapid and economical electrochemical sensing using metal oxide electrodes. The study was made available online on December 2, 2025, and was published in Volume 49 of the journal Trends in Environmental Analytical Chemistry on March 1, 2026.
“Our study provides mechanistic insights that are often missing with a detailed explanation of how MPs interact with metal oxide electrode surfaces, including impedance changes and interaction-induced current transients,” says Prof. Ameen.
Notably, metal oxide nanostructures, such as zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, and hydrophobic cerium dioxide (CeO₂) with their large surface area and excellent conductivity, enable direct, high-sensitivity detection of trace MPs even in complex environments like wastewater or marine ecosystems, providing a practical on-site monitoring system.
In addition, the detection performance of metal oxide-based sensors can be dramatically enhanced by controlling the morphology and surface chemistry of metal oxides. Moreover, specific morphologies, such as nanorods, nanowires, or porous structures, form ‘hotspots’ that increase sensitivity compared to simple spherical particles.
Furthermore, a material engineering approach, such as hydrophobic CeO₂ nanoparticles that attract hydrophobic plastic particles, can aid in effective detection of MPs by selectively targeting MPs like polyethylene or polypropylene amidst various environmental interferents.
Metal oxide-based electrochemical sensors can be deployed for on-site and real-time monitoring of MPs in rivers, lakes, and oceans. Their portability, rapid response, and low cost make them suitable for continuous environmental surveillance programs, overcoming limitations of laboratory-based spectroscopic techniques. Moreover, electrochemical sensing platforms based on metal oxides can be used for routine screening of drinking water supplies to ensure compliance with safety standards, particularly for detecting trace-level MPs that escape conventional treatment methods. They can also be applied to detect MPs in seafood and processed food products, supporting food safety assessments and regulatory inspections.
Furthermore, due to their low management requirements, these systems are ideal for handheld or wearable sensing devices for field researchers and environmental inspectors conducting in situ analysis. Lastly, the sensors can aid in risk assessment of combined chemical-plastic exposure in environmental and biological samples, owing to their ability to detect hazardous pollutants adsorbed onto MPs.
“Metal oxide-based sensors will soon be integrated with the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence technologies. Over the next few years, the widespread adoption of this novel next-generation technology is expected to pave the way for improved public health protection, enhanced food safety and consumer confidence, acceleration of technological innovation and green industry growth, extensive interdisciplinary education and research, as well as global environmental resilience and climate adaptation,” concludes Prof. Ameen.
***
Reference
DOI: 10.1016/j.teac.2025.e00289
About Jeonbuk National University
Founded in 1947, Jeonbuk National University (JBNU) is a leading Korean flagship university. Located in Jeonju, a city where tradition lives on, the campus embodies an open academic community that harmonizes Korean heritage with a spirit of innovation. Declaring the “On AI Era,” JBNU is at the forefront of digital transformation through AI-driven education, research, and administration. JBNU leads the Physical AI Demonstration Project valued at around $1 billion and spearheads national innovation initiatives such as RISE (Regional Innovation for Startup and Education) and the Global University 30, advancing as a global hub of AI innovation.
Website: https://www.jbnu.ac.kr/en/index.do
About the author
Professor Sadia Ameen serves at the Department of Bio-Convergence Science, Jeongeup Campus, Jeonbuk National University, Republic of Korea. She is also an Adjunct Visiting Associate Professor in the Department of Engineering, School of Computing, La Trobe University, Australia. Her research is focused on the synthesis and applications of clean energy materials, especially in sensors and other optoelectronic devices. She has received numerous honors, including a Gold-Medal for academic excellence, Outstanding Scientist Award, Asia’s Top-50 Scientist Award, and Best Researcher Award. She has been consistently listed among Stanford University’s World’s Top 2% Scientists (2019–2025). She has authored and co-authored over 180 peer-reviewed publications, contributed to numerous book chapters, and edited 20 books. She also actively serves the scientific community as an editor and guest editor for various journals.
END
A new study led by Marie-Pierre Sylvestre, professor at the Université de Montréal School of Public Health, examines cannabis use 4 to 5 years after Canadian legalization by adopting a different perspective: rather than focusing solely on at-risk cases or those associated with problems, it identifies the socio-demographic, mental health, and lifestyle profiles of those who present a low risk of cannabis use disorder (CUD).
The study, of which Guillaume Dubé is the lead author, analyzed data from 731 Quebec adults in their mid-thirties. The results show that among the ...
Photos
Two of the three recipients of the second-ever Sony Women in Technology Award with Nature are from University of Michigan Engineering. The award "celebrates remarkable women working in science and technology" by providing a $250,000 prize to support their research endeavors.
Xiwen Gong, an assistant professor of chemical engineering, develops optoelectronics, or electronics that create or react to light, as well as electrically conductive materials for wearable sensors and medical devices. Zhen Xu, the Li Ka Shing Professor of Biomedical Engineering, is an ...
Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have developed a method to predict when someone is likely to develop symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease using a single blood test.
In a new study published Feb. 19 in Nature Medicine, the researchers demonstrated that their models predicted the onset of Alzheimer’s symptoms within a margin of three to four years. This could have implications both for clinical trials developing preventive Alzheimer’s treatments and for eventually identifying individuals likely to benefit from these ...
Researchers at Amsterdam UMC have discovered that a second pregnancy alters the female brain. Previous research from the same group had already demonstrated the impact of a first pregnancy on the female brain. These results are published today in Nature Communications. The research demonstrates that both a first and a second pregnancy have a strong and unique impact on mothers’ brains.
A previous study by Elseline Hoekzema and colleagues was the first to show that pregnancy changes the structure of the human brain. The research group also ...
Mass General Brigham’s evaluation of low-field MRI performance lays potential groundwork for this technology to be a lower-cost, accessible option for breast imaging
Researchers at Mass General Brigham have demonstrated the technical feasibility of using ultra-low field (ULF) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for breast imaging. With further refinement and evaluation, the technology could offer an alternative to existing breast cancer screening methods and may reduce barriers to screening. Results are published in Scientific Reports.
“These results are a very encouraging proof of principle, though larger studies are needed to establish diagnostic performance,” ...
In 2024, researchers in the Laboratory of Nanoscience for Energy Technology (LNET) in EPFL’s School of Engineering reported a platform for studying the hydrovoltaic (HV) effect – a phenomenon that allows electricity to be harvested when fluid is passed over the charged surface of a nanodevice. Their platform consisted of a hexagonal network of silicon nanopillars, the space between which created channels for evaporating fluid samples.
Now the LNET team, led by Giulia Tagliabue, has developed this platform into a hydrovoltaic system with a power output that matches or exceeds similar technologies – with a major advantage. Instead of relying on heat and light to simply ...
In the realm of entomology, few creatures command as much fascination as the mantis. Throughout history, these striking insects have been deeply woven into local myths and legends, sometimes respected as mystical soothsayers that can guide lost travelers home, and other times feared as little devils.
Today they remain captivating animals, serving as excellent bioindicators of biodiversity, and helping us identify rich and diverse ecosystems when present as native species.
However, a new study published in the open-access Journal of Orthoptera Research reports that two mantis species identified ...
The brain does not only communicate through fast electrical impulses; it also relies on slower, more diffuse chemical signals that modulate our emotional and social states over time. A study led by the Institute for Neurosciences (IN), a joint center of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the Miguel Hernández University of Elche (UMH), has identified a key molecular mechanism that regulates the release of oxytocin within the brain. Published in the journal Communications Biology, the work sheds light on how this hormone maintains a “social tone” and how its release contributes to the quality of social interactions.
Oxytocin is a hormone widely recognized ...
Public and patient engagement is becoming an established part of academic research, and funders increasingly require that citizens and patients are seen as research partners rather than merely as research subjects. Yet many researchers question what this means in everyday research practice.
An interview-based study conducted at the University of Eastern Finland examined this question from the researchers’ perspective. Researchers from two Finnish universities described their experiences of, and expectations of, public and patient involvement.
The findings focus on power relations between researchers and patients as something that ...
Scientists at Nagoya University in Japan have found two gut bacteria working together that contribute to chronic constipation. The duo, Akkermansia muciniphila and Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, destroy the intestinal mucus coating essential for keeping the colon lubricated and feces hydrated. Their excess degradation leaves patients with dry, immobile stool. This discovery, published in Gut Microbes, finally explains why standard treatments often fail for millions of people with chronic constipation.
Notably, the study shows that Parkinson's disease patients, who suffer from constipation decades before developing tremors, ...
