Our product lines

RealNP™-BIO

  • Mechanically generated 100nm range polystyrene nanoplastic fragments

  • Minimally BSA-coated surface with near-complete removal of detergent (<0.000005% w/v)

  • Maintains stable dispersion across biologically relevant solutions (plasma, media, buffers)

  • Optimized for high-sensitivity analytical methods sensitive to salts and surfactants (e.g., MS)

  • Reduces confounding variables while preserving native particle–protein interactions

RealNP™-BIO RealNP™-BIO RealNP™-BIO RealNP™-BIO
RealNP™-BIO
from $300.00

  • Mechanically generated polystyrene nanoplastic fragments

  • Minimally BSA-coated surface with near-complete removal of detergent (<0.000005% w/v)

  • Maintains stable dispersion across biologically relevant solutions (plasma, media, buffers)

  • Optimized for high-sensitivity analytical methods sensitive to salts and surfactants (e.g., MS)

  • Reduces confounding variables while preserving native particle–protein interactions

RealNP™-CORE

  • Mechanically generated 100 nm range polystyrene nanoplastic fragments

  • Surfactant-stabilized to maintain dispersion without aggregation

  • No antimicrobial preservatives (e.g., sodium azide), minimizing unintended toxicity artifacts

  • Optimized for detergent-insensitive analytical method development

  • Enables direct comparison with prior nanosphere-based literature

RealNP™-CORE RealNP™-CORE RealNP™-CORE RealNP™-CORE
RealNP™-CORE
from $250.00

  • Mechanically generated polystyrene nanoplastic fragments

  • Surfactant-stabilized to maintain dispersion without aggregation

  • No antimicrobial preservatives (e.g., sodium azide), minimizing unintended toxicity artifacts

  • Optimized for detergent-insensitive analytical method development

  • Enables direct comparison with prior nanosphere-based literature

We offer 3 different sized units designed for:

  • 1 mg — Detection method development & Preliminary biological studies
    Ideal for calibration, sensitivity testing, and early-stage assay development

  • 5 mg — In vitro studies
    Suitable for cell-based assays, uptake studies, and iterative experimental work

  • 20 mg — Extended and in vivo studies (contact us before ordering)
    Designed for larger-scale experiments, longitudinal studies, and in vivo applications

How our plastic fragments are made

A proprietary, patent-pending workflow designed to generate realistic micro- and nanoplastic fragments

1. We start with real-world plastic feedstocks

  • Industrial-grade materials used in plastic manufacturing

  • More representative than narrowly defined lab polymers

  • Verified by FTIR and GEC for identity, additive analysis, and consistency

A pile of small, clear plastic pellets with orange arrows pointing to different objects: a blue water bottle, a green food container, a yellow toy car, and a black electrical switch.

2. We mechanically break plastics down without heat damage

  • Cryogenic grinding and low-temperature milling (<15 °C)

  • Preserves native polymer structure without thermal deformation

  • Generates irregular, non-spherical fragments

  • Size-controlled, polydisperse populations (~100 nm, 1 µm, 10 µm)

Temperature controlled generation of nanoplastic particles.

fragments centered ~100nm (TEM)

Transmission electron microscope image of virus particles, approximately 100 nanometers in size, scattered on a surface.
Transmission electron microscope image of virus particles, approximately 100 nanometers in size, scattered on a surface.

3. We define size and stabilize for biological use

  • Target size ranges defined within controlled windows

  • Dispersant removed and replaced with minimal BSA stabilization

  • Maintains dispersion while preserving native surface behavior

size enrichment

A line graph showing particle size distribution with particle size in nanometers on the x-axis and particle count on the y-axis, with a steep decline as particle size increases.

BSA-coronated fragments (TEM)

Transmission electron microscope image showing virus particles at the nanometer scale with a scale bar indicating 100 nanometers.
Transmission electron microscope image showing virus particles at the nanometer scale with a scale bar indicating 100 nanometers.

4. We validate performance in real biological systems

  • Morphology and size characterized by TEM, LD, MADLS, and NTA

  • Fragment stability evaluated in biologically relevant solutions

  • Cellular responses assessed by microscopy and imaging flow cytometry

macrophage-like RAW264.7 cells after 24h of nanoplastic exposure

Bar graph showing the percentage of cell death at different concentrations of RealNP™ BIO (0, 10, 100 µg/mL). No cell death at 0, increased cell death at 10, and highest cell death at 100 µg/mL.
Black and white microscopic image showing three round cells, with a bar chart overlay indicating levels of ReaLNP™-BIO in micrograms per milliliter, ranging from 0 to 100.

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to common questions about our materials, applications, and best practices. Can’t find your answer? Please reach out to us!

  • Yes. We currently accept credit card payments and are expanding to support:

    • Purchase Orders (POs)

    • Invoice-based payments (e.g., Net terms)

    • Integration with research procurement platforms (e.g., Quartzy)

    • Procurement through scientific distributors (e.g., Fisher Scientific, VWR)

    If your institution requires a specific payment method, please contact us — we’re happy to work with your procurement team.

  • We are expanding across several dimensions:

    • Polymer types: PET, PE, PP, and other common plastics

    • Size ranges: extending beyond current ~100 nm, 1 µm, and 10 µm populations

    • Weathering states: oxidation, UV exposure, and environmentally aged materials

    • Surface formats: controlled protein corona systems and ligand-functionalized particles

    • Labeling options: fluorescence-labeled fragments for uptake and tracking studies

  • BSA is used to stabilize particle dispersion while introducing minimal additional variables.

    • Biologically familiar: Cell culture media typically contains serum, where albumin is the dominant protein

    • Low reactivity: Albumin is structurally robust and among the least reactive proteins

    • Minimal interference: Provides a neutral surface without imposing strong or artificial functionality

    • Controlled baseline: Establishes a simple, reproducible starting surface for experiments

    • Biologically relevant starting point: Albumin is among the first proteins to adsorb to particle surfaces in biological fluids, and BSA coating captures this initial step in a controlled way

    In biological environments, the initial BSA layer is partially replaced by surrounding proteins, allowing the particle surface to adapt to the experimental context.

  • Dose is highly dependent on cell type and experimental context.

    As a general guideline:

    • 10–500 µg/mL is a practical working range for most in vitro studies

    • ≥1000 µg/mL is typically not biologically relevant and may introduce artifacts due to particle crowding and aggregation

    We recommend starting low and titrating based on your specific model.

  • Cellular sensitivity is largely driven by uptake behavior, not inherent tolerance.

    • Macrophage-like cells (e.g., RAW264.7)

      • Highly phagocytic

      • Uptake readily → responses observed at ~10 µg/mL

    • Structural cells (e.g., epithelial cells)

      • More selective uptake

      • Lower apparent sensitivity unless particles are internalized

    This difference reflects cellular selectivity, not resistance.

  • Particles can be modified to enhance uptake, for example through:

    • Ligand-mediated targeting

    • Protein corona engineering

    Protocols for controlled surface functionalization will be made available.