The Eco-corona of Microplastics: Environmental Transformations, Biological Interactions, and Health Implications

Abstract

Microplastics have emerged as a pervasive environmental pollutant with significant ecological and health implications. Once released into natural systems, these particles rarely exist in their pristine form; instead, they rapidly acquire a dynamic layer of biomolecules, natural organic matter, microbes, and pollutants known as the eco-corona. This environmental coating fundamentally alters the physicochemical identity of microplastics, restructuring their environmental fate, interactions with organisms, and toxicological potential. Particular emphasis is placed on biological outcomes, including altered uptake, immunological responses, and trophic transfer, as well as emerging insights into human exposure and health risks. Despite recent advancements in microplastics research, critical gaps remain in linking eco-corona composition to long-term environmental and health outcomes. Challenges include the lack of standardized methods, limited in vivo studies, and insufficient integration of eco-corona effects into risk assessments. Addressing these gaps will require interdisciplinary approaches that span environmental chemistry, toxicology, and public health. In this narrative review, we synthesize current evidence on the processes driving eco-corona formation, the ecological factors that influence its composition, the biological implications for the human body, particularly oral health, and the analytical approaches used for its characterization. We further highlight how eco-corona development modulates microplastic transport, bioavailability, and interactions with co-contaminants, thereby influencing ecosystem dynamics and pollutant cycling. By focusing on the eco-corona as a key factor affecting microplastic effects, this review highlights the significance of improving scientific knowledge, legal frameworks, and long-term solutions to plastic pollution.