Trapping tiny pollutants: SERS-driven strategies for microplastics and nanoplastics detection

Microplastics and nanoplastics are almost everywhere in biological and environmental systems, posing serious risks to human health and ecology. However, due to their complex matrices, varied sizes, and morphologies, their detection and quantification remain challenging. Particularly, Raman and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) hold great promise for the detection, characterization, and quantification of micro/nanoplastics. In this review, we introduce the Raman and SERS fundamental principles, instrumentation, and SERS substrate design strategies. Particularly, emphasis is placed on SERS-enabled ultrasensitive detection, integration with chemometrics and machine learning tools, culminating in the real-world applicability. Additionally, we elaborate on the current limitations, including signal variability, lack of standardization, and sample preparation challenges. Finally, future directions involving artificial intelligence (AI) integration, substrate engineering, and multi-modal analytical approaches are discussed.