JD Whitman

Desmodesmus is a genus of green algae in the family Scenedesmaceae. It is the only chlorophyll-containing organism known to have caused human infections in immunocompetent individuals. All known cases involved open injuries occurring in freshwater. To learn more, read the article: Infection with a Chlorophyllic Eukaryote after a Traumatic Freshwater Injury | New England Journal of Medicine (nejm.org)

A protozoan (most likely an amoeboid) feeding on cells of the green alga Desmodesmus subspicatus.

A protozoan (most likely Favella sp.) feeding on cells of the green alga Desmodesmus subspicatus.

A protozoan (most likely Favella sp.) feeding on cells of the green alga Desmodesmus subspicatus.

Cells of the green alga Desmodesmus subspicatus.

A protozoan (most likely Favella sp.) feeding on cells of the green alga Desmodesmus subspicatus.

Cells of the green alga Desmodesmus subspicatus.

Cells of the green alga Desmodesmus subspicatus.

Microscopic imaging of a water fleas (Daphnia sp.), a small freshwater crustacean that is part of the zooplankton.

Microscopic imaging of a water fleas (Daphnia sp.), a small freshwater crustacean that is part of the zooplankton.

Microscopic imaging of a water fleas (Daphnia sp.), a small freshwater crustacean that is part of the zooplankton.

Microscopic imaging of a water fleas (Daphnia sp.), a small freshwater crustacean that is part of the zooplankton.

Microscopic imaging of a water fleas (Daphnia sp.), a small freshwater crustacean that is part of the zooplankton.

Freshwater algae and Polystyrene particles floating around them.

Heliozoa (commonly known as sun-animalcules) microbial eukaryote (protist) with stiff arms (axopodia) radiating from the spherical body.

Microscopic imaging of Chlorella vulgaris, a green alga highly recognized by their natural chelating competence that makes it among the most used microorganisms in bioremediation studies for mitigation of environmental pollution.

Microscopic imaging of Chlorella vulgaris, a green alga highly recognized by their natural chelating competence that makes it among the most used microorganisms in bioremediation studies for mitigation of environmental pollution.

Cells of the green alga Desmodesmus subspicatus.

Cells of the green alga Desmodesmus subspicatus.

Commercially available, 140 micrometer sized fluorescent polystyrene beads imaged by a fluorescent microscope. These beads are used in recovery studies to assess how many of intentionally added plastic particles can be recovered in a drinking water sampling device.

Particles captured from drinking water using a 20 micrometer cutoff filter, resuspended and collected again on a flat, 0.2 micrometer cutoff aluminum-oxide filter. Visulalised by an optical microscope. Drinking water contains large amounts of naturally occuring particles, including iron oxide, calcium carbonate and silicon oxide.

Particles captured from drinking water using a 20 micrometer cutoff filter, resuspended and collected again on a flat, 0.2 micrometer cutoff aluminum-oxide filter. Visulalised by an optical microscope.

The short, fibre like particles in this case were shown to be silicon oxide, originated from freshwater diatoms.

Particles captured from drinking water using a 20 micrometer cutoff filter, resuspended and collected again on a flat, 0.2 micrometer cutoff aluminum-oxide filter. Visulalised by a fluorescent microscope using UV illumination. Some of the captured particles, including those of natural origin, might be autofluorescent under the UV light. Other fluorescent, fiber like particles might also be present because of background contamination. contamination  often occurs during sampling and sample treatment.

Commercially available, 140 micrometer-sized fluorescent polystyrene beads. Imaged by a fluorescent microscope. These beads are used in recovery studies to assess how many of intentionally added plastic particles can be recovered in a drinking water sampling device.

Commercially available, 140 micrometer sized fluorescent polystyrene beads. Image captured using dark field illumination (optical microscopy). These beads are used in recovery studies to assess how many of intentionally added plastic particles can be recovered in a drinking water sampling device.

Commercially available, 140 micrometer sized fluorescent polystyrene beads. Image captured using dark field illumination (optical microscopy). These beads are used in recovery studies to assess how many of intentionally added plastic particles can be recovered in a drinking water sampling device.

Microplastic particles generated from fluorescent highlighter caps under the fluorescent microscope. In-house made, fluorescent model particles might help to test irregular shaped particles in recovery studies, i.e. to assess how many of intentionally added plastic particles can be recovered in a drinking water sampling device or during sample treatment steps.

In-house stained, fluorescent microplastic beads made of polymethyl methacrylate visualized by a fluorescent microscope. Nile red, the dye used here is one of the most often applied molecules to label microplastic particles.

In-house stained, 40 micron size  fluorescent microplastic beads made of polymethyl methacrylate visualized by a fluorescent microscope.

Autofluorescent zooplankton under the fluorescent microscope in UV illumination. These little arthropodes were captured by the filtration system of a drinking water production plant that produces drinking water from lake water.

Transmission Electron Microscopy image of an ultra-fine slice of freshwater algae exposed to nanoparticles. Nanoplastics are not internalized by algae, but can slightly interact with cell walls.

Transmission Electron Microscopy image of an ultra-fine slice of freshwater algae exposed to nanoparticles. Nanoplastics are not internalized by algae, but can slightly interact with cell walls.

Transmission Electron Microscopy image of ultra-fine slice of murine macrophage exposed to in-house synthesized gold labeled Polyvinyl Chloride nanoparticles. Nanoplastics are internalized and stored inside endosomes. To learn more, read the article: Investigating the Cellular Uptake of Model Nanoplastics by Single-Cell ICP-MS.

Transmission Electron Microscopy image of ultra-fine slice of murine macrophage exposed to in-house synthesized gold labeled Polyethylene nanoparticles. Nanoplastics are internalized and stored inside endosomes. To learn more, read the article: Investigating the Cellular Uptake of Model Nanoplastics by Single-Cell ICP-MS.

Transmission Electron Microscopy image of ultrafine slice of murine macrophage exposed to in-house synthesized gold labeled Polyethylene nanoparticles. Nanoplastics are internalized and stored inside endosomes. To learn more, read the article: Investigating the Cellular Uptake of Model Nanoplastics by Single-Cell ICP-MS.

Transmission Electron Microscopy image of cyanobacteria exposed to in-house synthesized gold labeled Polyvinyl Chloride nanoparticles. Particles interact with the bacterium wall. To learn more, read the article: Investigating the Cellular Uptake of Model Nanoplastics by Single-Cell ICP-MS.

Transmission Electron Microscopy image of cyanobacteria exposed to in-house synthesized gold labeled Polyvinyl Chloride nanoparticles. Particles interact with the bacterium wall. To learn more, read the article: Investigating the Cellular Uptake of Model Nanoplastics by Single-Cell ICP-MS.

Transmission Electron Microscopy image of diatoms exposed to in-house synthesized gold labeled Polyvinyl Chloride nanoparticles. Particles are not internalized by this organism, but are interacting with their pores.

Transmission Electron Microscopy image of diatoms exposed to in-house synthesized gold labeled Polyvinyl Chloride nanoparticles. Particles are not internalized by this organism, but are interacting with their pores.

Transmission Electron Microscopy image of mussels tissue matrix collected and digested. This experiment was designed to support method development for nanoplastics’ detection in the environment. The spherical and dark particles are not nano-plastics but elements naturally present in the sample.

Transmission Electron Microscopy image of mussels tissue matrix collected and digested. This experiment was designed to support method development for nanoplastics’ detection in the environment. The spherical and dark particles are not nano-plastics but elements naturally present in the sample.

Transmission Electron Microscopy image of bacteria ‘family’ in an environmental industrial sample.

Transmission Electron Microscopy image of bacteria in an environmental industrial sample.

Transmission Electron Microscopy image of in-house synthesized gold labeled Polyethylene nanoparticles suspension, dried on TEM support grid.

Transmission Electron Microscopy image of in-house synthesized gold labeled Polyethylene nanoparticles suspension, dried on TEM support grid.

Transmission Electron Microscopy image of in-house synthesized gold labeled Polyethylene nanoparticles suspension, dried on TEM support grid.

Transmission Electron Microscopy image of in-house synthesized gold labeled Polyethylene nanoparticles suspension, dried on TEM support grid.

Transmission Electron Microscopy image of in-house synthesized gold labeled Polyethylene nanoparticles suspension dried on TEM support grid.

Transmission Electron Microscopy image of in-house synthesized gold labeled Polyethylene nanoparticles suspension dried on TEM support grid.

Transmission Electron Microscopy image of in-house synthesized gold labeled Polyethylene nanoparticles suspension in specific sea water culture environment dried on TEM support grid.

Transmission Electron Microscopy image of in-house synthesized gold labeled Polyethylene nanoparticles suspension in specific sea water culture environment dried on TEM support grid in presence of bacteria.

Transmission Electron Microscopy image of in-house synthesized gold labeled Polyethylene nanoparticles suspension dried on TEM support grid.

Transmission Electron Microscopy image of commercial available Polystyrene nanoparticles suspension dried on TEM support grid.

Transmission Electron Microscopy image of commercial available Polystyrene nanoparticles suspension dried on TEM support grid.

Transmission Electron Microscopy image of commercial available Polystyrene nanoparticles suspension dried on TEM support grid.

Transmission Electron Microscopy image of commercial available Polystyrene nanoparticles suspension dried on TEM support grid.

Transmission Electron Microscopy image of commercial available Polystyrene nanoparticles suspension dried on TEM support grid.

Transmission Electron Microscopy image of commercial available Polystyrene nanoparticles suspension dried on TEM support grid.

Transmission Electron Microscopy image of ultrafine slice of commercial available Polystyrene nanoparticles suspension embedded in epoxy resin for analysis.

Transmission Electron Microscopy image of ultrafine slice of commercial available Polystyrene nanoparticles suspension embedded in epoxy resin for analysis.

Transmission Electron Microscopy image of feces-pseudofaeces collected after exposure of freshwater mussels to gold labeled Polyethylene nanoparticles.

Transmission Electron Microscopy image of feces-pseudofaeces collected after exposure of freshwater mussels to gold labeled Polyethylene nanoparticles.

Transmission Electron Microscopy image of in-house synthesized gold labeled Polyvinyl Chloride nanoparticles suspension dried on TEM support grid.

Transmission Electron Microscopy image of in-house synthesized gold labeled Polyvinyl Chloride nanoparticles suspension dried on TEM support grid.

Transmission Electron Microscopy image of in-house synthesized gold labeled Polyvinyl Chloride nanoparticles suspension dried on TEM support grid.

Transmission Electron Microscopy image of in-house synthesized gold labeled Polyvinyl Chloride nanoparticles suspension dried on TEM support grid.

Transmission Electron Microscopy image of in-house synthesized gold labeled Polyvinyl Chloride nanoparticles suspension dried on TEM support grid.

Transmission Electron Microscopy image of in-house synthesized gold labeled Polyvinyl Chloride nanoparticles suspension dried on TEM support grid.

Transmission Electron Microscopy image of in-house synthesized gold labeled Polyvinyl Chloride nanoparticles suspension dried on TEM support grid. Free gold nanoparticles are present in the red cycle.

Transmission Electron Microscopy image of in-house synthesized gold labeled Polyvinyl Chloride nanoparticles suspension dried on TEM support grid. Free gold nanoparticles are present in the red cycle.

Transmission Electron Microscopy image of in-house synthesized gold labeled Polyvinyl Chloride nanoparticles suspension dried on TEM support grid. Free gold nanoparticles are present in red cycles.

Transmission Electron Microscopy image of in-house synthesized gold labeled Polyvinyl Chloride nanoparticles suspension dried on TEM support grid.

Transmission Electron Microscopy image of in-house synthesized gold labeled Polyvinyl Chloride nanoparticles suspension dried on TEM support grid.

Transmission Electron Microscopy image of in-house synthesized quantum dots labeled Polyvinyl Chloride nanoparticles suspension dried on TEM support grid.

Array of star-shaped nanocavities fabricated in a Silicon chip by Focused Ion Beam. The array is used to trap nanoparticles (including nanoplastics) dispersed in a complex matrix and to facilitate the identification by Raman spectroscopy.

Magnification of the previous image. Nanoplastics are trapped in the cavities.

Array of round-shaped nanocavities fabricated in a Silicon chip by Focused Ion Beam. The array is used to trap nanoparticles (including nanoplastics) dispersed in a complex matrix and to facilitate the identification by Raman spectroscopy. Tilted view. The size of the hole selects the size of the particles to be measured.

Optical image of a filter used to trap nanoplastics.

Nanoplastics trapped on a filter.

Array of round-shaped nanocavities fabricated in a Silicon chip by Focused Ion Beam. The array is used to trap nanoparticles (including nanoplastics) dispersed in a complex matrix and to facilitate the identification by Raman spectroscopy.

Array of round-shaped nanocavities fabricated in a Silicon chip by Focused Ion Beam. The array is used to trap nanoparticles (including nanoplastics) dispersed in a complex matrix and to facilitate the identification by Raman spectroscopy. It is possible to distinguish single nanoplastics trapped in some of the cavities.

Array nano-trenches fabricated in a Silicon chip by Focused Ion Beam. The array is used to trap nanoparticles (including nanoplastics) dispersed in a complex matrix and to facilitate the identification by Raman spectroscopy.

Array of round-shaped nanocavities fabricated in a Silicon chip by Focused Ion Beam. The array is used to trap nanoparticles (including nanoplastics) dispersed in a complex matrix and to facilitate the identification by optical microscopy.

Array of round-shaped nanocavities fabricated in a Silicon chip by Focused Ion Beam. The array is used to trap nanoparticles (including nanoplastics) dispersed in a complex matrix and to facilitate the identification by optical microscopy. Single particles deposited on the bottom of the cavities to calibrate the optical system.