Aflatoxin contamination continues to challenge poultry producers across the globe, posing risks to bird health, farm profitability, and food safety.
In an innovative study at the North-West University (NWU) by MSc researcher Nonsindiso Masuku explored the use of green-engineered nanoparticles to protect broiler chickens against aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), one of the most dangerous natural toxins found in feed.
One of the numerous fungi-derived mycotoxins, AFB1 is a secondary metabolite produced by the Aspergillus flavus and A. parasititicus fungal (mould) species. It predominantly occurs in the fungi-contaminated maize (corn), other cereal-based feedstuffs, and oilseed cakes that are used as chief energy and protein sources for broiler diets especially under hot and humid tropical/sub-tropical conditions as is characteristic of Southern Africa.
It can also occur in meat from animals fed contaminated feed as well as in their edible tissues. AFB1 is known to induce mutagenic, teratogenic, and carcinogenic effects in animals and humans. It is an unavoidable food and feed contaminant in the world food/feed supply chain. Therefore, it is necessary to find strategies to minimise its fungal production and/or to attenuate its deleterious effects in poultry.
Maize and peanuts for animal-human consumption that are contaminated with toxic aflatoxin-producing fungi (moulds).
Nonsindiso firstly synthesised, characterised and bio-validated her glycine-coated phytogenic silver/titanium dioxide nanohybrids (Gly-G-Nano-Ag/TiO₂) in the subject group Chemistry under the expert co-supervision of Prof Damian Chinedu Onwudiwe.
Her green nanotechnology work was recently published in the Nanochemistry Research journal. Then, she applied the green nanohybrids in the broiler chicken diets as a smart strategy to resolve the problem of aflatoxicosis, the pathology induced by dietary consumption of AFB1.
The study evaluated whether glycine-coated phytogenic silver/titanium dioxide nanohybrids (Gly-G-Nano-Ag/TiO₂) could reduce the physiological damage caused by AFB1, without negatively affecting broiler growth or meat quality.
A total of 120 male Cobb 500 finisher broilers were allocated to three experimental diets in a completely randomised design:
1. Control diet without AFB1 (-AF)
2. Diet with 0,04 mg/kg AFB1 (+AF)
3. Diet with 0,04 mg/kg AFB1 plus 25 mg/kg Gly-G-Nano-Ag/TiO₂ (+AF+Glyn)
The feeding trial ran for 21 days, with data collected on:
• Growth performance
• Carcass and visceral organ traits
• Meat quality
• Haematological and serum biochemical indicators
Key findings included no impact of AFB1 or the nanoparticles on:
• Body weight gain
• Feed intake
• Feed conversion efficiency
• Carcass traits
• Organ development
• Meat quality, and
• Most haemato-biochemistry variables
“This is an important finding, because it shows that the nanoparticles can be used safely in broiler diets without affecting production efficiency,” says Nonsindiso.
Nanohybrids restored key blood health markers
Although most blood parameters were unaffected, AFB1 triggered certain physiological disturbances:
• White blood cells, blood lymphocytes, and serum albumin were decreased by AFB1 exposure.
• Remarkably, dietary incorporation of Gly-G-Nano-Ag/TiO₂ restored both the white blood cells and serum albumin to normal levels.
“The ability of these green nanoparticles to reverse specific aflatoxin-induced disruptions is particularly interesting and opens a promising avenue for safe and sustainable feed additives in poultry nutrition,” says Dr DMN Mthiyane, one of her supervisors.
Mixed immune cell responses
The study also found that both AFB1 and the phytogenic nanoparticles increased heterophils and platelets, suggesting an immune response activation. These findings suggest that both AFB1 and the green nanohybrids may have unleashed some oxidative stress and inflammation on the broiler chickens. Future studies will endeavour to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the immune regulatory mechanisms of the aflatoxin and the glycine-coated green bimetallic nano-hybrids.
Conclusion
The research demonstrates that glycine-coated green Ag/TiO₂ nanohybrids show protective potential against specific toxic effects of aflatoxin B1, particularly by restoring white blood cell levels and serum albumin, while posing no risk to performance, meat quality, or carcass characteristics.
“This study adds to the growing body of evidence supporting green nanotechnology as a viable tool in modern animal production,” Nonsindiso concludes. “It brings us closer to safe and sustainable solutions for combating feed-borne toxins.”
Supervised by Dr Mthiyane, Prof Onwudiwe and Prof. M Mwanza, Nonsindiso recently obtained her master’s degree in animal science with distinction. She has been re-admitted to pursue her PhD studies with Dr Mthiyane in the subject group Animal Science in 2026.
She will be working with a multi-disciplinary supervisory team including molecular biology experts from the Future Professors Programme in which Dr Mthiyane is participating.
Nonsindiso Masuku
