OICC Press Journal of Nanostructure in Chemistry 2193-8865 15 1 2025 02 28 Core-shell nanoparticles based on ZnO/yeast cell wall: characterization, antifungal properties and aflatoxin B1 binding 10.57647/jnsc.2025.1501.01 EN Ehsanolah Fakhar Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, S.R.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran Mansour Bayat Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, S.R.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8329-4283 Anna Abdolshahi Food Safety (salt) Research Center, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5414-1253 Nakisa Sohrabi Haghdoost Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, S.R.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran Hamid Madanchi Nervous System Stem Cells Research Center Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran   AND   Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran   AND   Drug Design and Bioinformatics Unit, Medical Biotechnology Department, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran Journal Article 2025 02 28 A class of mycotoxins such as aflatoxins are harmful and significant concern for public health, food safety, and agricultural practices.  Recent challenges are involve reducing and the eliminating aflatoxins from contaminated food and feed using bio-based strategies. The  development of edible binders is a promising approach to mitigate aflatoxin as a health risk. This study aimed to develop and  characterize of core-shell nanoparticles using yeast cell wall extracted from Saccharomyces Cerevisiae as a shell surrounding ZnO  nanoparticle core (CW/ZnO NPs). The obtained CW/ZnO core-shell was characterized regarding physicochemical properties, antifungal  effect and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) binding capacity. FTIR confirmed the chemical composition of the synthesized nanoparticles. The size  distribution and zeta potential of CW/ZnO NPs were in the acceptable range. Based on the microscopy techniques, a spherical shape  (diameters of 21.36–42.54 nm) and a rough surface were observed, indicating a cell wall assigned to the shell of the ZnO core. According to the determined MIC and MFC, significant antifungal activity was obtained against A. parasiticus (500 µg/mL) and C.  albicans (125 µg/mL). The CW/ZnO core-shell showed the highest AFB1 adsorption (55.4%) compared to the cell wall and ZnO samples  in PBS. This research introduces a bio-based nanoparticle with a core-shell structure as an AFB1 binder. Considering its  potential for reducing aflatoxin bioavailability could be recommended to apply in the food and feed industry.