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Eco-corona: A new frontier in understanding micro- and nanoplastic-gut interactions
Summary
Tiny plastic particles floating in the environment don't stay "clean", they quickly pick up a coating of molecules, germs, and pollutants (called an "eco-corona"), which can change how harmful they are once swallowed. This review of existing research suggests this coating may help plastics carry toxins and bacteria into our gut, potentially disrupting the gut lining, triggering inflammation, and throwing off the balance of gut bacteria. The science is still early, but it's a reminder that when we study microplastics' health risks, we need to look at what's riding along on their surface, not just the plastic itself.
Plastics released into natural environments undergo complex transformations, ending in the spontaneous formation of an “eco-corona”, a dynamic layer of adsorbed organic molecules, biomolecules, and microorganisms. This eco-corona profoundly alters the physicochemical identity of micro- and nanoplastics, modulating their environmental fate, pollutant adsorption, cellular uptake, and toxicity. Emerging evidence shows that eco-corona-coated plastics can act as vectors for environmental pollutants and microbial pathogens, raising significant concerns for ecosystems and human health, particularly in the gastrointestinal tract. Eco-corona dynamics influence colloidal stability, pollutant vectorization, immune responses, and interactions with the gut microbiota, potentially contributing to barrier dysfunction, inflammation, and microbiota dysbiosis. However, major knowledge gaps persist regarding the real-world composition and evolution of eco-coronas, their interplay with biological coronas, and their long-term impacts on health. This mini review synthesizes current insights into eco-corona formation, its modulation of micro- and nanoplastic behavior and toxicity, and highlights critical research priorities to better understand and mitigate the emerging risks at the interface between plastic pollution and gastroenterology.