Aflatoxin B-1 bioremoval by fungal cells immobilised on magnetic nanoparticles

Aflatoxins are the most potent hepatocarcinogens of all biologically produced toxins found to date. Contaminated food and commodities are one of the most serious problems due to an irreversible damage to health. Taking advantage of biological methods to improve food safety, an aflatoxin B-1 (AFB(1)) bioremoval study was conducted to investigate the potential of arrested fungal cells on magnetic nanoparticles. The favourable results on the degradation of AFB(1) indicate a reasonable influence of the carriers on the fungal cells and the degradation process. The efficacy of degradation of AFB(1) by free and immobilised fungal cells on four different magnetic nanoparticles (Fe3O4) was investigated. The degradation rate by HPLC analysis exhibited 54.97% for the free cell study, 85.85% for Fe3O4@MTMS@cell, 95.07% for Fe3O4@TEOS@cell, 84.48% for Fe3O4@SiO2-NH2@cell and 96.52% for Fe3O4@BCD@cell for the 3 mu g/ml AFB(1). The degradation with Fe3O4@ BCD@cell showed remarkable results even for 5 mu g/ml AFB(1) resulting 93.42%.