High-speed automated analysis of sub-20 ΜM microplastics by photothermal infrared spectroscopy

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences awarded Photothermal Spectroscopy Corp. $1,022,908 on August 13, 2026, under the Environmental Health program (CFDA 93.113) to develop and commercialize the Photothermal Infrared Particle Analyzer (PIPA), a high-speed automated platform for detecting and analyzing microplastics below 20 micrometers in size.

PIPA will analyze particles by size, shape, and chemical identity at a throughput exceeding 1,000 particles per hour with imaging 10 times faster than conventional optical photothermal infrared systems. The platform automates particle segmentation, multi-spectral pre-screening to eliminate non-plastics, and spectral measurement with advanced classification algorithms, delivering approximately 50 times improvement in overall measurement, analysis, and reporting throughput while reducing labor time from hours to minutes per dataset. The instrument addresses analytical gaps in microplastics research across air, water, food, and biological tissue matrices. Photothermal Spectroscopy Corp., a minority-owned small business based in Santa Barbara, California, specializes in advanced optical photothermal infrared microscopy systems. Performance occurs in Santa Barbara, with a period of performance ending July 31, 2028. This is an SBIR Phase II grant supporting the development of commercial tools and technologies to assess environmental exposures.

Abstract

Microplastics (MPS), defined by NIH as plastic waste particles ranging from 0.1 ΜM to 5 MM, are now ubiquitous in water, air, soil, and food, posing significant environmental and human health risks. Despite growing concerns, existing techniques struggle to analyze the smallest and most hazardous particles, particularly those below 20 ΜM. Current FT-IR and raman spectroscopy techniques are insufficient due to spatial resolution limits, scattering artifacts, and lengthy measurement times, making them impractical for high-throughput analysis of sub-20 ΜM MPS, especially sub-ΜM MPS. Photothermal spectroscopy corp (PSC) proposes to develop and commercialize the photothermal infrared particle analyzer (pipa)-a high-speed, automated platform capable of detecting, analyzing, and reporting the size, shape, and chemical identity of >1000 particles per hour with sensitivity down to 10X faster imaging than conventional o-ptir systems. The proposed pipa platform addresses critical limitations in current methods by automating particle segmentation, multi-spectral pre-screening to eliminate non- plastics, and high-speed spectral measurement with advanced classification algorithms-delivering a ~50X improvement in overall measurement, analysis, and reporting throughput, while cutting total labor from hours to minutes per dataset. PSC's o-ptir technology has already been adopted by early researchers for MP analysis across diverse matrices, including air, water, food, and biological tissues, demonstrating its potential to address current analytical gaps. The pipa platform has also garnered strong interest and support from key stakeholders in microplastics research and environmental testing, highlighting its potential to standardize and accelerate MP analysis in high-impact applications. Pipa's high-throughput capabilities will meet the growing demand for microplastics analysis across environmental, biomedical, and regulatory applications, providing a transformative solution for characterizing MPS in complex matrices. This project directly responds to the NIH notice of special interest (not-ES-23-002) "understanding exposure and health effects of micro and/or nanoplastics," especially the need to "develop methods to detect and quantify microplastics and nanoplastics in environmental and biological samples." beyond microplastics, pipa has the potential to advance high- throughput analysis of cellular and bacterial populations and support critical research initiatives in environmental health and toxicology.