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; NIH3T3 cells; hemolysis; mesoporous material; mycotoxins.