Growth-independent inhibition of aflatoxin biosynthesis with selected nanoparticles

A method for inhibiting production of an aflatoxin in a fungus comprising:

• forming a first suspension of silver nanoparticles, the silver nanoparticles comprising a surface coating, the coated silver nanoparticles having an average size of from 15 nanometers to 30 nanometers as determined by transmission electron microscopy;
• separating the coated silver nanoparticles from the first suspension by ultrafiltration in a diafiltration mode;
• redispersing the coated silver nanoparticles in a second suspension, the second suspension including the coated silver nanoparticles at a concentration of from 25 nanograms per milliliter to 60 nanograms per milliliter;
• contacting the fungus with the second suspension, wherein during a period of time in which the fungus is in contact with the suspension, fungal aflatoxin production is inhibited with no significant decrease in fungal growth rate as expressed as dry weight accumulation per unit time of the contact.