Mesoporous silica nanoparticles adsorb aflatoxin B 1 and reduce mycotoxin-induced cell damage.

The present study examined the effects of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) on its adsorption capacity of aflatoxin B 1 (AFB 1 ). Moreover, the study evaluated the toxicity of MSNs with AFB 1 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 m 2 /g. At 0.1 mg mL -1 concentration of MSN, the AFB 1 adsorption capacity was 30%, which reached 70% when the MSN concentration increased to 2.0 mg mL -1 . Our findings showed that AFB 1 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 AFB 1 at all concentrations. Hemolysis test also revealed no hemolysis in MSNs evaluated alone and in those combined with AFB 1 . To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to demonstrate that MSN can reduce cell toxicity produced by AFB 1 due to its potential to adsorb mycotoxins.