Toxic effects of aflatoxin B1 on embryonic development of zebrafish (Danio rerio): potential activity of piceatannol encapsulated chitosan/poly (lactic acid) nanoparticles.

The aim was to analyse the efficacy of piceatannol (PIC) loaded chitosan (CS)/poly(lactic acid)(PLA) nanoparticles (CS/PLA-PIC NPs) in zebra fish embryos exposed to aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). FTIR confirmed the chemical interaction between the polymers and drug. SEM showed the size of CS/PLA-PIC NPs approximately 87 to 200nm, compared to CS-PLA NPs of 150nm size. The size was further affirmed as 127nm (CS-PLA NPs) and 147nm (CS/PLA-PIC NPs) by zetasizer depiction. CS/PLA-PIC NPs have not illustrated toxicity at high concentrations when tested in zebrafish embryos. AFB1 wielded their toxic effects on the survival, spontaneous movement, hatching and heart rate and development of embryos were observed in both time and dose-dependent manner at 4μM. Our results suggested that the addition of CS/PLA-PIC NPs increases the survival, heart rate and hatching in time dependent manner at the dosage of 20μg/ml. These hopeful results may prompt the advancement of drug encapsulated polymeric nanoparticles which may have the potential role in improving the AFB1 induced toxicity in humans as well.