Mesoporous silica nanoparticles adsorb aflatoxin B₁ and reduce mycotoxin-induced cell damage

Abstract

The present study examined the effects of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) on its adsorption capacity of aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁). Moreover, the study evaluated the toxicity of MSNs with AFB₁ using NIH3T3 cells and hemolysis test. The obtained MSNs were spherical, irregular-like in shape, having a mean size of 39.97 ± 7.85 nm and a BET surface area of 1195 m²/g. At 0.1 mg mL⁻¹ concentration of MSN, the AFB₁ adsorption capacity was 30%, which reached 70% when the MSN concentration increased to 2.0 mg mL⁻¹. Our findings showed that AFB₁ was adsorbed (∼67%) in the first few minutes on being in contact with MSNs, reaching an adsorption capacity of ∼70% after 15 min. Thereafter, the adsorption capacity remained constant in solution, demonstrating that the MSNs adsorbed toxins even beyond overnight. MSN treatment (0.5–2.0 mg mL⁻¹) using NIH3T3 cells did not result in any reduction in cell viability. In addition, MSN treatment completely reversed the cytotoxic effect of AFB₁ at all concentrations. Hemolysis test also revealed no hemolysis in MSNs evaluated alone and in those combined with AFB₁. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to demonstrate that MSN can reduce cell toxicity produced by AFB₁ due to its potential to adsorb mycotoxins.

Keywords:

• Adsorption
• hemolysis
• mesoporous material
• mycotoxins
• NIH3T3 cells

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the MULTILAB-UNESC (Multiuser Laboratory) and Laboratories of the Iparque-Parque Científico e Tecnológico from the Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense for making the equipment facility available to us.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author [GDS] on request. Raw images of this study are available in [Mendeley Data] at https://doi.org/10.17632/dnc866grd3.1.

Additional information

Funding

The authors thank the support of the “Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior-Brasil (CAPES)” and the “Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa e Inovação do Estado de Santa Catarina (FAPESC).”