A novel approach against amitraz toxicity based on magnetic extraction using native β-cyclodextrin and β-cyclodextrin...

Amitraz (AMZ) is a pesticide widely used for apiculture and agriculture, resulting in residues potentially contaminating hive products and increasing the risk of human exposure. In this work, we developed a water-compatible supramolecular strategy to mitigate the acute toxicity of AMZ in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells, based on host-guest sequestration by β-cyclodextrin (βCD) or cationic β-cyclodextrin polymers (CCDP), combined with magnetic recovery using superparamagnetic nanoparticles (MNPs). The inclusion of AMZ in βCD and CCDP was confirmed by changes in the chemical environment and molecular vibrations, showing preferential interactions through the aromatic region. The inclusion compounds βCD-AMZ and CCDP-AMZ showed increased viability of SH-SY5Y cells compared to acute exposure of AMZ (2 h) at IC₅₀ and IC₇₅ conditions, consistent with a reduction in the bioavailable fraction after complexation. To incorporate a magnetically recoverable material, iron oxide MNPs were obtained. Via functionalization of the MNPs surface with inclusion compounds, the nanosystems MNPs-βCD-AMZ and MNPs-CCDP-AMZ proved to be formed. The AMZ cell protection and extraction strategy developed was studied with IC75 exposure. Delayed addition of βCD or CCDP (1', 15', or 30' after AMZ exposure) improved neuroblastoma cell viability under all conditions. Furthermore, coupling to MNPs enabled rapid magnetic collection of the inclusion compounds, founded as trace fraction recovered. Notably, these results support the development of a novel and simple platform for reducing the cytotoxicity and extraction of AMZ, representing a viable alternative for mitigating pesticides and related compounds.