Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41921103›Full record

ArticleACS nano2026

Picogram-Level Nanoplastic Analysis with Nanoelectromechanical System Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy: NEMS-FTIR.

Jelena Timarac-Popović, Johannes Hiesberger, Eldira Šesto, Niklas Luhmann, Ariane Giesriegl, Hajrudin Bešić, Josiane P Lafleur, Silvan Schmid

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in ACS nano, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Jelena Timarac-PopovićTU Wien, Institute of Sensor and Actuator Systems, Gusshausstrasse 27-29, 1040 Vienna, Austria.ORCID 0009-0005-1024-0053
Johannes HiesbergerInvisible-Light Labs GmbH, Taubstummengasse 11, 1040 Vienna, Austria.ORCID 0000-0002-1769-5094
Eldira ŠestoTU Wien, Institute of Sensor and Actuator Systems, Gusshausstrasse 27-29, 1040 Vienna, Austria.ORCID 0000-0002-4170-785X
Niklas LuhmannInvisible-Light Labs GmbH, Taubstummengasse 11, 1040 Vienna, Austria.ORCID 0000-0002-3912-0769
Ariane GiesrieglTU Wien, Institute of Sensor and Actuator Systems, Gusshausstrasse 27-29, 1040 Vienna, Austria.ORCID 0000-0002-5227-8472
Hajrudin BešićTU Wien, Institute of Sensor and Actuator Systems, Gusshausstrasse 27-29, 1040 Vienna, Austria.ORCID 0000-0001-5057-705X
Josiane P LafleurInvisible-Light Labs GmbH, Taubstummengasse 11, 1040 Vienna, Austria.ORCID 0000-0003-4459-8801
Silvan SchmidTU Wien, Institute of Sensor and Actuator Systems, Gusshausstrasse 27-29, 1040 Vienna, Austria.ORCID 0000-0003-3778-7137

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

We present a photothermal infrared spectroscopy-based approach for the chemical characterization and quantification of nanoplastics. By combining the high sensitivity of nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS) with the wide spectral range and ubiquity of commercially available Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometers, NEMS-FTIR offers a time-efficient and cryogen-free option for the rapid, routine analysis of nanoplastics in aqueous samples. Polypropylene, polystyrene, and polyvinyl chloride nanoplastics with nominal diameters ranging from 54 to 262 nm were analyzed by NEMS-FTIR with limits of detection ranging from 101 to 353 pg, 1 order of magnitude lower than values reported for pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of nanoplastics. The absorptance measured by NEMS-FTIR could be further converted to absolute sample mass using the attenuation coefficient, as demonstrated for polystyrene. Thanks to the wide spectral range of NEMS-FTIR, nanoplastic particles from different polymers could be readily identified, even when present in a mixture. The potential of NEMS-FTIR for the analysis of real samples was demonstrated by identifying the presence of nanoplastics released in water during tea brewing. Polyamide leachates in the form of fragments and smaller oligomers could be identified in the brewing water without sample preconcentration, even in the presence of an organic matrix. Accelerated aging of the nylon teabags under elevated temperature and UV radiation showed further release of polyamide over time.

Indexed as

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopynanoelectromechanical systemsnanoparticlesnanoplasticsNEMS-FTIRnylon teabagphotothermal sensing

Identifiers

PMID41921103
PMCPMC13085850

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.