Glutaraldehyde cross-linked magnetic chitosan nanoparticles (GMCNs) were prepared through crosslinking modification of magnetic chitosan nanoparticles (MCNs) using glutaraldehyde as crosslinker, that not only exhibited excellent food dyes adsorption performance, but also showed low cytotoxicity. Adsorption characteristics of GMCNs in FD&C Blue 1 and D&C Yellow 5 aqueous solutions have been studied and results indicated that the adsorption capacities were affected by initial pH values, initial dye concentrations and temperatures. Food dyes adsorption followed with the pseudo-second-order reaction, and equilibrium experiments were well fitted the Langmuir isotherm model. Maximum adsorption capacities of GMCNs displayed at pH 3.0 and at 25 degrees C, being up to 475.61 and 292.07 mg/g, for FD&C Blue 1 and D&C Yellow 5 respectively. Thermodynamic results demonstrated that the adsorption processes were spontaneous and exothermic. Furthermore, it was found that the GMCNs can be regenerated and reused through dye desorption in alkaline solution. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.