Atomic Force Microscopy in Nanoplastics Research

亚微米尺寸的塑料颗粒（纳米塑料颗粒，NP）同时在环境中无处不在，因此这些颗粒对不同生态系统的影响和相关风险在很大程度上仍然未知。由于其小的空间尺寸，识别/表征的NP代表了一个主要的实验挑战。此外，目前还没有一个既定的方法，系统的调查纳米粒子在相关环境条件下的相互作用。在这种情况下，原子力显微镜是一种很有前途的方法，它可以用来确定的大小，形状，粗糙度，和可能的团聚的纳米粒子通过成像程序。除了成像，显微镜的尖锐和局部探针也可用于研究纳米级的机械，粘合和摩擦性能。然而，这一巨大的潜力尚未被充分利用的表征纳米颗粒。因此，目前还没有科学验证的基础，全面评估原子力显微镜在纳米粒子研究中的性能。在本项目的范围内，原子力显微镜将系统和自动地应用于纳米颗粒的表征。其主要目标是进行统计学上显著的测量系列，从而对原子力显微镜在纳米塑料研究领域的潜力进行科学评估。此外，原子力显微镜的能力，以调查在相关环境中的纳米粒子的相互作用原位将进行评估。为此，扫描探针与纳米粒子装饰和它们的相互作用下的环境条件的变化进行了彻底的研究。

Plastic particles of submicrometer size (nanoplastic particles, NPs) are meanwhile omnipresent in the environment, whereby the effects of those particles on different ecological systems and the associated risks are still largely unknown. Due to their small spatial dimensions, the identification/characterization of NPs represents a major experimental challenge. Furthermore, there is currently no established methodology for the systematic investigation of the interactions of NPs under relevant environmental conditions. In this context, atomic force microscopy is a promising methodology, which can be used to determine the size, shape, roughness, and possible agglomerations of NPs by means of an imaging procedure. In addition to imaging, the sharp and local probe of the microscope can also be used to investigating nanoscale mechanical, adhesive, and friction properties. However, this considerable potential has not yet been fully exploited for the characterization of NPs. Consequently, there is currently no scientifically verified basis for a comprehensive assessment of the performance of atomic force microscopy in NPs research. Within the scope of this project, atomic force microscopy will be applied systematically and automatically for the characterization of NPs. The main goal is to carry out statistically significant measurement series, which allow the scientific evaluation of the potential of atomic force microscopy in the field of nanoplastics research. Moreover, the ability of the atomic force microscope to investigate the interactions of NPs in relevant environments in-situ will be evaluated. For this purpose, scanning probes are decorated with NPs and their interactions are thoroughly studied under variation of environmental conditions.