The Composition of the Eco-corona Acquired by Micro- and Nanoscale Plastics Impacts on their Ecotoxicity and Interactions with Co-pollutants

Eco-corona formation on the surface of particles, whereby biomolecules with affinity for the particle surface adsorb onto the particle surface, leads to changes in the biological identity and the physiochemical properties of the particle, and to subsequent changes in the environmental distribution, xenobiotic absorption, biotransformation and toxicity. The composition of the eco-corona depends on the available biomolecules in the specific environmental compartment, and it evolves over time in response to changes in the surroundings. Understanding the changing eco-corona composition, and the drivers of this, is key to elucidating the mechanisms of toxicity and environmental fate of microplastic particles. Characterisation of the physical and chemical characteristics of the eco-corona on micro- and nanoplastic particles can be explored using a range of techniques, which have previously been established for nanoparticle coronas or for characterisation of natural organic matter, in order to further our understanding of the environmental impact of these emerging particulate pollutants.