Porous 3D Prussian blue/cellulose aerogel as a decorporation agent for removal of ingested cesium from the gastrointestinal tract

In the present study, we successfully synthesized a porous three-dimensional Prussian blue-cellulose aerogel (PB-CA) composite and used it as a decorporation agent for the selective removal of ingested cesium ions (Cs(+)) from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The safety of the PB-CA composite was evaluated through an in vitro cytotoxicity study using macrophage-like THP-1 cells and Caco-2 intestinal epithelial cells. The results revealed that the PB-CA composite was not cytotoxic. An adsorption study to examine the efficiency of the decorporation agent was conducted using a simulated intestinal fluid (SIF). The adsorption isotherm was fitted to the Langmuir model with a maximum Cs(+) adsorption capacity of 13.70 mg/g in SIF that followed pseudo-second-order kinetics. The PB-CA composite showed excellent stability in SIF with a maximum Cs(+) removal efficiency of 99.43%. The promising safety toxicology profile, remarkable Cs(+) adsorption efficacy, and excellent stability of the composite demonstrated its great potential for use as an orally administered drug for the decorporation of Cs(+) from the GI tract.