Detoxification agents based on magnetic nanostructured particles as a novel strategy for mycotoxin mitigation in food.

Mycotoxins are toxic compounds that can be present in feed, food and beverages. In this work, 25 magnetic nanostructured materials were developed to remove the main types of mycotoxins from liquid food matrices. The efficiency for binding mycotoxins from contaminated aqueous solutions was studied. Nanocomposites (diameters lower to 15 μm) composed of mixtures of activated carbon, bentonite and aluminium oxide were able to eliminate up to 87% of mycotoxins with an adsorption efficiency of 450 µg/g. On the other hand, spheres with sizes below 3 mm and composed by biopolymers and activated carbon or graphene oxide removed up to 70% of mycotoxins (adsorption of 598 ng/g). These particles were tested for beer detoxification, and spheres composed of alginate and activated carbon or pectin maintain the ability to eliminate toxins from this beverage. Hence, this technology could be a useful tool for the food industry.