Available analytical methods cannot detect nanoplastics at environmentally realistic concentrations in complex matrices such as biological tissues. Here, we describe a one-step polymerization method, allowing direct radiolabeling of a sulfonate end-capped nano-sized polystyrene (nPS; proposed as a model nanoplastic particle representing negatively charged nanoplastics). The method, which produces nanoplastics trackable in simulated environmental settings which have already been used to investigate the behavior of a nanoplastic in vivo in a bivalve mollusc, was developed, optimized and successfully applied to synthesis of ¹⁴C-labeled nPS of different sizes. In addition to a description of the method of synthesis, we describe the details for quantification, mass balance and recovery of the labelled particles from complex matrices offered by the radiolabelling approach. The radiolabeling approach described here, coupled to use of a highly sensitive autoradiographic method for monitoring nanoplastic body burden and distributions, may provide a valuable procedure for investigating the environmental pathways followed by negatively charged nanoplastics at low predicted environmental concentrations. Whether the behaviour of the synthetic nPS manufactured here, synthesised using a very common inititator, represents that of manufactured nPS found in the environment, remains to be seen.

可用的分析方法无法在诸如生物组织之类的复杂基质中以环境现实浓度检测纳米塑料。在这里，我们描述了一种一步聚合方法，可以直接对磺酸盐封端的纳米级聚苯乙烯（nPS；作为代表带负电荷的纳米塑料的模型纳米塑料颗粒）进行直接放射性标记。该方法已开发，优化并成功地用于合成^14种化合物，该方法可在模拟环境中产生可追踪的纳米塑料，该方法已用于研究双壳类软体动物体内的纳米塑料行为。具有C标记大小的nPS。除了对合成方法的描述之外，我们还描述了放射性标记方法提供的复杂基质中标记颗粒的定量，质量平衡和回收的详细信息。此处描述的放射性标记方法，加上使用高灵敏度的放射自显影方法来监测纳米塑料的人体负荷和分布，可能为研究环境途径提供了有价值的程序，随后是在低预测环境浓度下带负电荷的纳米塑料。使用非常常见的引发剂合成的合成nPS的行为是否代表了在环境中发现的合成nPS的行为，还有待观察。