Calcium Aluminosilicate Clay Enterosorbent for Aflatoxin Sequestration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aflatoxins, harmful by-products of mold growth, pose a significant risk to human health due to their heat stability and widespread contamination in food supplies, particularly in developing countries, leading to acute and chronic health issues including liver cancer, as existing solutions are either ineffective or not feasible for widespread implementation.
Innovation Solution
A processed calcium aluminosilicate clay is used as an enterosorbent to sequester aflatoxins in the gastrointestinal tract, reducing their bioavailability and toxicity by binding them with high affinity and capacity, while ensuring it does not interfere with the absorption of essential vitamins and micronutrients.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If aflatoxins are removed from contaminated food supplies, then health risks are reduced, but existing solutions are either ineffective or not feasible for widespread implementation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an enterosorbent composition as an intermediary substance that binds aflatoxins in the gastrointestinal tract. This mediator allows the body to eliminate aflatoxins without requiring removal from the original food supply, making the solution feasible for widespread implementation in contaminated regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The enterosorbent composition extracts and removes aflatoxins from the gastrointestinal tract through binding and sequestration. This extraction process occurs in-situ within the body, eliminating the need for external food processing or purification infrastructure.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a sorbent material is used to bind aflatoxins, then aflatoxin exposure is reduced, but the sorbent may interfere with absorption of essential vitamins and micronutrients
Solution Approach 1:
The enterosorbent composition is designed with local quality - it has high binding affinity specifically for aflatoxins while maintaining neutrality toward essential nutrients. The composition's chemical structure (calcium aluminosilicate with specific cation exchange properties) creates selective binding zones that target aflatoxin molecules without interfering with vitamin and micronutrient absorption pathways.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes parameters of the enterosorbent composition including particle size (5-50 micrometers), cation exchange capacity, and mineral content to achieve selective aflatoxin binding. These parameter changes ensure the sorbent binds aflatoxins effectively while allowing essential nutrients to pass through the gastrointestinal tract unimpeded.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The clay effectively mitigates the adverse effects of aflatoxins, reducing exposure and associated health risks, including liver cancer, by specifically targeting aflatoxins without impacting nutrient utilization, thus providing a practical and safe intervention for populations at risk.
Implementation Method 1
The processed calcium aluminosilicate clay binds aflatoxins preferentially, with high affinity and high capacity in the gastrointestinal tract
Data Source
AI summary
A composition and method for use as a preventive therapy to mitigate the effects of environmental toxins, and particularly aflatoxins in a subject. The subject may be at risk for hepatocellular carcinoma and aflatoxicosis. The composition comprising: an effective amount of an isolated low sodium, calcium aluminosilicate clay in a powder form, wherein the isolated low sodium, calcium aluminosilicate clay contains acceptable levels of dioxins and priority toxic heavy metal contamination, and is capable of preferentially binding aflatoxins in the gastrointestinal tract.