Laccase-Mimicking Cu-Tannic Acid Nanozyme for Zearalenone Detoxification: Mechanism and Application in Corn Oil

Zearalenone (ZEN), a prevalent estrogenic mycotoxin found in grains and oils, poses significant health risks due to its endocrine-disrupting properties. This study elucidates the application of a laccase-mimicking copper-tannic acid (CuTA) nanozyme as an effective catalyst for the degradation of ZEN. The CuTA nanozyme was capable of directly catalyzing the oxidation of ZEN, with optimal reaction conditions observed at a pH of 7.0 and temperatures ranging from 37 to 57 °C. The degradation products of ZEN were identified as 13-hydroxy-zearalenone (13-OH-ZEN) and 15-hydroxy-zearalenone (15-OH-ZEN). Furthermore, cytotoxicity assessments demonstrated that the CuTA nanozyme-mediated degradation of ZEN effectively reduced the hepatotoxicity of this mycotoxin. The E-screen bioassay revealed a 43.7-fold reduction in the estrogenic activity of ZEN after CuTA-mediated degradation. In corn oil, the CuTA nanozyme achieved 82% ZEN removal within 12 h and maintained 58% efficiency after four reuse cycles. These results highlight the potential use of the CuTA nanozyme to detoxify ZEN in corn oil.