In Vitro Assessment of Chitosan-Based Nanoparticles Versus Glucomannan in Binding to Aflatoxin B1 in Poultry Ration

Fungal growth and its secondary metabolites have a profoundly negative impact on the commercial poultry industry, resulting in reduced feed intake, poor growth performance, hepatorenal toxicity, and increased mortality rates. The primary objective of this study is to develop a mycotoxin binder with anti-mycotoxin activity and nanoparticle properties capable of inhibiting fungal growth, adsorbing mycotoxins, and mitigating their toxic effects. Chitosan-based nanoparticles (CNPs) were synthesized and characterized, exhibiting an average particle size of 56.6 nm, a polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.4, and a positive surface charge of 32.3 mV. When inoculated into Vero cells, CNPs showed no cytotoxic effects compared to the control group. The sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay revealed a cell viability of 94.02% at a concentration of 100 μg/ml, with an IC50 exceeding 100 μg/ml. The high permeability, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and non-toxic nature of CNPs were assessed in vitro for their efficacy as a mycotoxin binder for aflatoxin B1 in contaminated broiler feed. Reduction activity was compared with chitosan and glucomannan by quantifying aflatoxin B1 levels using validated High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analysis. The results introduce chitosan-based nanoparticles (CNPs) as innovative mycotoxin binders with enhanced adsorptive capacity, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. CNPs showed an 81.5% reduction in aflatoxin B1 levels, outperforming chitosan (16.4%) and offering multifunctional applications, including antimicrobial and anti-mycotoxin effects. Compared to glucomannan (98.3% reduction), CNPs stand out for their versatility in mitigating fungal growth and toxin impact in poultry feed, paving the way for advanced strategies in the poultry industry.