Extraction of Mycotoxins from Aqueous Solutions Using Functionalized Polyelectrolyte-Coated Microparticles

This work targets the development of a new tech- nology for extraction of mycotoxins for possible applications in agriculture, food industry, environmental control, security, and medicine. For this purpose, MnCO3 microparticles were coated consecutively with layers of polystyrene sulfonate sodium salt and polyallylamine hydrochloride and then func- tionalized with antibodies specific to either zearalenone (ZON) or aflatoxin (AFT). The microparticles obtained were analyzed with scanning electron microscopy. The mycotoxin extraction was monitored by UV-visible absorp- tion spectra measurements performed on aqueous solutions spiked with ZON and AFT before and after treatment with functionalized microparticles.