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Grain water content (GWC) is a key determinant for mechanical harvesting of maize (Zea mays). In our previous research, we identified a quantitative trait locus, qGWCl, associated with GWC in maize. Here, we examined near-isogenic lines (NILs) NILL and NILH that differed at the qGWC1 locus. Lower GWC in NILL was primarily attributed to reduced grain water weight (GWW) and smaller fresh grain size, rather than the accumulation of dry matter. The difference in GWC between the NILs became more pronounced approximately 35 d after pollination (DAP), arising from a faster dehydration rate in NILL. Through an integrated analysis of the transcriptome, proteome, and metabolome, coupled with an examination of hormones and their derivatives, we detected a marked decrease in JA, along with an increase in cytokinin, storage forms of IAA (IAA-Glu, IAA-ASP), and IAA precursor IPA in immature NILL kernels. During kernel development, genes associated with sucrose synthases, starch biosynthesis, and zein production in NILL, exhibited an initial up-regulation followed by a gradual down-regulation, compared to those in NILH. This discovery highlights the crucial role of phytohormone homeostasis and genes related to kernel development in balancing GWC and dry matter accumulation in maize kernels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Entrapping phytochemical bioactive compounds into nano-structured biocompatible polymers has been successfully utilized for improving cancer treatment efficiency. Silibinin is a potent compound that shows promising anticancer properties. In the present study, the Zein-β-cyclodextrin complex was used to encapsulate silibinin and evaluate the induced cell death type and cytotoxic impacts on human cancer cells. The silibinin-loaded Zein-β cyclodextrin nano-carriers (SZBC-NCs) were synthesized utilizing a gradual ultrasound-mediated homogenization technique and characterized by Zeta potential, DLS, FESEM, and FTIR analysis. The SZBC-NCs' antioxidant activity was studied by conducting ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging assays. Finally, the SZBC-NCs selective toxicity and cellular death induction mechanism were studied on the HT-29 and AGS cancer cells by measuring the cell survival and apoptotic gene (Caspase 3, 9), respectively, which were verified by conducting the DAPI staining analysis. The negatively charged (− 27.47 mV) nanoparticles (286.55 nm) showed significant ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging activity. Moreover, the remarkable decrease in the IC50 concentrations of the SZBC-NCs among the HT-29 and AGS cancer cell lines exhibited their selective cytotoxic potential. Also, the overexpressed apoptotic (Caspases 3 and 9) and down-regulated necrotic (NFKB) gene expressions following the SZBC-NCs treatment doses indicated the apoptotic activity of SZBC-NCs, which were verified by the increased apoptotic morphology of the DAPI-stained HT-29 cancer cells. The antioxidant and colon cancer cell-related apoptotic activity of the SZBC-NCs make it an appropriate anti-colon cancer nano delivery system. Therefore, they can potentially be used as a safe efficient colon cancer treatment strategy. However, further in vivo experiments including animal cancer models have to be studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene oxide (GO) has attracted huge attention in biomedical sciences due to its outstanding properties and potential applications. In this study, we synthesized GO using our recently developed 1-pyrenebutyric acid-assisted method and assessed how the GO as a filler influences the mechanical properties of GO–gelatine nanocomposite dry films as well as the cytotoxicity of HEK-293 cells grown on the GO–gelatine substrates. We show that the addition of GO (0–2%) improves the mechanical properties of gelatine in a concentration-dependent manner. The presence of 2 wt% GO increased the tensile strength, elasticity, ductility, and toughness of the gelatine films by about 3.1-, 2.5-, 2-, and 8-fold, respectively. Cell viability, apoptosis, and necrosis analyses showed no cytotoxicity from GO. Furthermore, we performed circular dichroism, X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses to decipher the interactions between GO and gelatine. The results show, for the first time, that GO enhances the mechanical properties of gelatine by forming non-covalent intermolecular interactions with gelatine at its amorphous or disordered regions. We believe that our findings will provide new insight and help pave the way for potential and wide applications of GO in tissue engineering and regenerative biomedicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, breast cancer is considered one of the most upsetting malignancies among females. Encapsulation of celecoxib (CXB) and prodigiosin (PDG) into zein/sodium caseinate nanoparticles (NPs) produce homogenous and spherical nanoparticles with good encapsulation efficiencies (EE %) and bioavailability. In vitro cytotoxicity study conducted on human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cell lines revealed that there was a significant decline in the IC50 for encapsulated drugs when compared to each drug alone or their free combination. In addition, results demonstrated that there is a synergism between CXB and PDG as their combination indices were 0.62251 and 0.15493, respectively. Moreover, results of scratch wound healing assay revealed enhanced antimigratory effect of free drugs and fabricated NPs in comparison to untreated cells. Furthermore, In vitro results manifested that formulated nanoparticles exhibited induction of apoptosis associated with reduced angiogenesis, proliferation, and inflammation. In conclusion, nanoencapsulation of multiple drugs into nanoparticles might be a promising approach to develop new therapies for the managing of triple negative breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant proteins have become attractive for biomedical applications such as wound dressing and drug delivery. In this research, nanofibers from pristine zein (plant protein) and zein loaded with tungsten oxide (WO3) were prepared (WO3@zein) using less toxic solvents (ethanol and acetic acid). Morphological and biological properties of the zein nanofiber were determined. Prepared nanofibers were defined by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (X-RD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and scanning electron microscopy. The average fiber diameter was unchanged with an increase in WO3 concentration from 0.001 to 0.008%. FT-IR spectroscopy and X-RD indicated the presence of WO3 in WO3@zein nanofibers. In comparison to WO3-free, WO3@zein nanofibers showed higher safety and preserved the anticancer effect of WO3 against human melanoma cell line (A375) melanoma cells compared to WO3-free. Moreover, both WO3-free and WO3@zein caused a fourfold increase in the cellular proliferation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the treated A375 cells compared to untreated cells. ROS elevation led to apoptosis-dependent cell death of A375 cells as evidenced by up-regulating the expression of p53-downstream genes (p21 and Bax) (tumor-suppressor gene) while down-regulating the expression of key oncogenes (BCL2 and cyclin D). In conclusion, the prepared nanofiber represents a promising and safe candidate for anticancer applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among natural sources, guava leaf oil (GLO) has emerged as a potential anticancer agent. However, its limited water solubility poses a significant challenge for its use. Oil-in-water nanoemulsions are used to address the limitation of water solubility of GLO prior to its incorporation into orodipersible films. Nanoemulsions containing GLO:virgin coconut oil (VCO) at a ratio of 50:50 to 70:30 presented a small droplet size of approximately 50 nm and a relatively low zeta potential. GLO:VCO at a ratio of 70:30 was selected for incorporation into sodium alginate film at various concentrations ranging from 1% to 30% w/w. Tensile strength and elongation at break relied on the concentration of nanoemulsions as well as the internal structure of films. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed that GLO was compatible with sodium alginate. Film containing 2% w/w of nanoemulsions (2G_ODF) exhibited effective in vitro antioral cancer activity, with an IC50 of 62.49 ± 6.22 mg/mL; furthermore, its anticancer activity showed no significant difference after storage at 25 °C for 1 year. Moreover, 2G_ODF at IC60 arrested colony formation and cell invasion. There is also evidence that cell death occurred via apoptosis, as indicated by nuclear fragmentation and positive Annexin-V staining. These findings highlight the potential of orodispersible films containing GLO nanoemulsions as a prospective oral anticancer agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cultivated meat is a nascent technology that aims to create an environmentally and animal-friendly alternative to conventional meat. Producing skeletal muscle tissue in an animal-free system allowing for high levels of myofusion and maturation is important for the nutritional and sensorial value of cultivated meat. Alginate is an attractive biomaterial to support muscle formation as it is food-safe, sustainable and cheap and can be crosslinked using non-toxic methods. Although alginate can be functionalized to promote cell attachment, limitations in its mechanical properties, including form, viscosity, and stress relaxation, hinder the cellular capacity for myogenic differentiation and maturation in alginate-based hydrogels. Here, we show that the addition of electrospun short-stranded zein fibers increased hydrogel degradation, resulting in faster compaction, improved cell–gel interaction, and enhanced alignment of bovine muscle precursor cells. We conclude that fiber-hydrogel composites are a promising approach to support optimal formation of 3D constructs, by improving tissue stability and thus prolonging culture duration. Together, this improves muscle-related protein content by facilitating myogenic differentiation and priming muscle organoids for maturation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Except for chemical composition, surface morphology may endue colloidal nanoparticles with special interfacial behaviors, which is highly desired in certain scenarios, for example, ultra-stable Pickering emulsion for pharmaceutical applications where only limited chemicals are allowed. Herein, silica colloidal nanoparticle was chosen as a demo to illustrate a kinetically-controlled seeded growth strategy for the surface morphology regulation of colloidal nanoparticles. Surface chemical heterogeneity was primarily introduced to the silica seed nanoparticles by a seeded growth process in the presence of mixed silicate moieties with thermodynamical incompatibility. Then a further kinetically-controlled seeded growth step was performed to regulate the surface morphology of silica nanoparticles by promoting the selective condensation of tetraethoxysilane on the hydrophilic microdomains. Upon reducing the growing rate, tetraethoxysilane hydrolysates tend to condensate on silica microdomains, resulting in the formation of raspberry-like nanoparticles. The generality of the kinetically-controlled seeded growth strategy was validated by its success on differently-sized silica seeds modified with a range of silane coupling agents. This established strategy is facile and effective for massive production of raspberry-like silica colloidal nanoparticles with precisely-designed surface morphology and size, offering an ideal platform for the investigation on the exclusive contribution of morphology to the interfacial behaviors of nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Targeted drugs have been used to treat mitochondrial dysfunction-related diseases, including metabolic disorders and cancer; however, targeting and penetrating intracellular organelles remains a challenge. Dominant targeting approaches for therapeutic delivery are detailed in many nanoemulsion studies and show the tremendous potential of targeted delivery to inhibit cancer cell growth. Dequalinium (DQA) and α-tocopherol succinate (α-TOS) are good agents for targeting mitochondria. In this study, we aimed to develop a mitochondria-targeting emulsion, using DQA and α-TOS (DTOS), for cancer treatment. DTOS emulsions of 150–170 nm in diameter were formulated using homogenization. DQA and α-TOS were used as bifunctional agents (surfactants) to stabilize the nanoemulsion and anticancer drugs. Various molar ratios of DQA and α-TOS were tested to determine the optimal condition, and DTOS 5-5 was selected for further study. The DTOS emulsion showed improved stability, as evidenced by its ability to remain stable for three years at room temperature. This stability, combined with its effective targeting of mitochondria, led to inhibition of 71.5% of HeLa cells after 24 h. The DTOS emulsion effectively inhibited spheroid growth in the 3D model, as well as prevented the growth of HeLa cells grafted onto zebrafish larvae. These results highlight the DTOS emulsion's promising potential for mitochondria-targeting and cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work produced graphene oxide (GO)-reinforced curcumin (CUR)-loaded zein-based electrospun nanofibers. FTIR and XRD analyses confirmed the formation of interaction between zein, GO, and CUR. However, other than entanglement changes, as confirmed by DSC analysis, this composite formation had little effect on the thermal stability, surface polarity, and crystallinity of the fibers. Meanwhile, the addition of GO increased the tensile strength of the fibers from (0.83 ± 0.19) to (6.87 ± 2.47) MPa, but the incorporation of CUR decreased it to ≈ 2.71 MPa. Cytocompatibility tests confirmed the growth of cells throughout the fibers; release assays indicated a two-stage release. Combined with the low swelling capacity (< 1 g g−1), the fibers absorb exudates, release bioactive molecules into the wound, give the body time to metabolize the released drug, and allow cell proliferation, creating a suitable environment for healing. Despite these results, in vivo are still prospects of this work. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fucoxanthin (FX) is a carotenoid from a marine origin that has an important role in our health, especially in the regulation and alleviation of type 2 diabetes. Its specific molecular structure makes it very unstable, which greatly affects its delivery in the body. In this study, FX was encapsulated in a mono-carrier using a hydrolyzed zein to form a nanocomplex with a stable structure and chemical properties (FZNP). Its stability was demonstrated by characterization and the efficacy of FX before and after encapsulation in alleviating diabetes in mice, which was evaluated by in vivo experiments. FZNP reduced the level of fasting blood glucose and restored it to normal levels in T2DM mice, which was not caused by a decrease in food intake, and effectively reduced oxidative stress in the organism. Both FX and FZNP repaired the hepatocyte and pancreatic β-cell damage, increased serum SOD and reduced INS values significantly, upregulated PI3K-AKT genes as well as CaMK and GNAs expression in the pancreas. FZNP increased ADPN and GSH-PX values more significantly and it decreased serum HOMA-IR and MDA values, upregulated GLUT2 expression, promoted glucose transport in pancreatic and hepatocytes, regulated glucose metabolism and glycogen synthesis with much superior effects than FX. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resveratrol (RSV), a non-flavonoid stilbene polyphenol, possesses anti-carcinogenic activities against all the major stages of cancer. Zein nanoparticles (ZN NPs) have been utilized successfully in delivery of variant therapeuticals by virtue of their histocompatible nature. The goal of this work was to comparatively explore the antiproliferative, pro-apoptotic and oxidative stress potentials of RSV-ZN NPs versus RSV against human colorectal carcinoma HCT-116 cells. ZN-RSV NPs were developed and assayed for particle size analysis and RSV diffusion. The selected formula obtained 137.6 ± 8.3 nm as mean particle size, 29.4 ± 1.8 mV zeta potential, 92.3 ± 3.6% encapsulation efficiency. IC50 of the selected formula was significantly lower against HCT-116 cells versus Caco-2 cells. Also, significantly enhanced cellular uptake was generated from RSV-ZN NPs versus free RSV. Enhanced apoptosis was concluded due to increased percentage cells in G2-M and pre-G1 phases. The pro-apoptotic potential was explained by caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-3 increased mRNA expression in addition to NF-κB and miRNA125b decreased expression. Biochemically, ZN-RSV NPs induced oxidative stress as demonstrated by enhanced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) isoenzyme increased levels. Conclusively, ZN-RSV NPs obtained cell cycle inhibition supported with augmented cytotoxicity, uptake and oxidative stress markers levels in HCT-116 tumor cells in comparison with free RSV. These results indicated intensified chemopreventive profile of RSV due to effective delivery utilizing ZN nano-dispersion against colorectal carcinoma HCT-116 cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zein, a maize protein, has been explored for constructing potential biomaterial due to its hydrophobic nature, self-assembly capability, and biocompatibility. In its nanoparticulate form, zein is a promising material for drug delivery applications, particularly in cancer treatment. Despite the importance of colloidal stability for effective drug delivery, systematic studies investigating the effect of various surface modifying agents (MAs) on the zein nanoparticles (ZNPs)-based formulations are limited. This study employs quality-by-design (QbD) approach to optimize curcumin-loaded ZNPs, enhancing colloidal stability, size, and drug-encapsulation efficiency using different MAs for potential cancer therapy. Gum arabic (GA) emerged as the optimal stabilizer, with GA-stabilized curcumin-loaded ZNPs (GA-Cur-ZNPs) achieving a particle size of 184.8 ± 2.85 nm, zeta potential of −23.4 ± 0.56 mV and 87.1 ±1.55 % drug encapsulation efficiency, along with excellent colloidal stability over two months. The optimal formulation also demonstrated sustained release of Cur over 72 h. GA-Cur-ZNPs demonstrated lower IC 50 values and higher anti-proliferative effects on three different cancer cell lines compared to the free drug, while also exhibiting superior intracellular uptake. With negligible toxicity to human dermal fibroblast cells, the optimized Cur-GA-ZNPs show promise for safe and effective killing of cancer cells. [Display omitted] • QbD approach to optimize curcumin-loaded zein nanoparticle formulation. • Gum arabic was found to be the most effective surface stabilizing agent. • Formulation showed better colloidal stability and efficient drug encapsulation. • Sustained drug release and efficient killing of cancer cells by optimized formulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the effect of supplementation with concentrate feeds of meal from protein plants on bull fattening on natural pastures. Material and Methods: One hundred crossbred bullocks (1/4 Holstein x 3/4 Zebu and 5/8 Holstein x 3/8 Zebu) were used, distributed in a complete randomized design. Two treatments were established. A) grazing on natural pastures plus supplementation with a concentrate feed formulated with meal from the protein plants Morus alba L. and Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A. Gray and B) grazing on natural pastures plus supplementation with a concentrate feed formulated with Glycine max (L.) Merr. Each treatment had grazing divided into two paddocks and an area of 36,84 and 53,0 ha, respectively, with rotation time of 15 days. The prevailing pastures in the pastureland were Paspalum notatum Alain ex Flügé and Dichanthium annulatum (Forssk.) Stapf. The initial stocking rate was 1,1 animals/ha (0,46 LAU/ha). Results: No significant differences were found for the live weight and daily weight gain in the 10 months the research lasted. The animals were slaughtered at 10 months, with live weight of 379-380 and 380-383 kg for the crossbred R1 (1/4 Holstein x 3/4 Zebu) and Siboney (5/8 Holstein x 3/8 Zebu) animals in treatments A and B, respectively. The average daily live weight gains were 0,454-0497 and 0,510-0,467 in the dry season and 0,65-0,636 and 0,59-0,489 kg/ animal/d in the rainy season in treatments A and B, in the crossbred animals R1 and Siboney, respectively. Conclusions: The utilization of concentrate feed formulated with the inclusion of meal from M. alba and T. diversifolia allowed live weight gains in fattening bullocks similar to the animals supplemented with concentrate feed based on soybean meal and the costs were more economical for Cuba than when G. max was used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oridonin (ORI) has obvious anticancer effects, but its solubility is poor. Nanocrystal (NC) is a novel nano-drug delivery system for increasing bioavailability for ORI. However, the endocytosis and transcytosis behaviours of oridonin nanocrystals (ORI-NCs) through epithelial membrane are still unclear. ORI-NCs were prepared and characterized. The in vitro cytotoxicity and endocytosis and transcytosis process on Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) monolayer were investigated. Anti-solvent precipitation method was adopted in preparation of ORI-NCs. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were adopted to explore crystallography of ORI-NCs. Sulforhodamine B (SRB) method was used to test the inhibition effect on proliferation of MDCK cells. Quantitative analysis by HPLC was performed to study the endocytosis and transcytosis of ORI-NCs and ORI bulk drug, and the process was observed by confocal laser spectrum microscopy (CLSM) and flow cytometry. The particle size of ORI-NCs was about 274 nm. The crystallography form of ORI was not changed after prepared into NCs. The dissolution rate of ORI-NCs was higher than pure ORI in 120 min. At higher concentrations (34, 84 and 135 μg/mL), ORI-NCs significantly reduced the cell viability compared with free ORI (p < 0.05, p < 0.01). ORI-NCs demonstrated higher endocytosis in MDCK cells than free ORI (p < 0.01). In the transport process, ORI-NC was taken up into cells in an intact form, and excreted out from basolateral membrane of polarized epithelial cells in an intact form. The internalization and transmembrane amount increased as a function of time. ORI-NCs transported through the MDCK monolayers in an intact form. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A stable oil-in-water (O/W) magnetic emulsion was prepared by the emulsification of organic ferrofluid in an aqueous media, and its theranostic applications were investigated. The synthesis and characterization of the organic ferrofluid were carried out comprising of superparamagnetic maghemite nanoparticles with oleic acid coating stabilized in octane. Both exhibit spherical morphology with a mean size of 6 nm and 200 nm, respectively, as determined by TEM. Thermogravimetric analysis was carried out to determine the chemical composition of the emulsion. The research work described here is novel and elaborates the fabrication of thin-film gradients with 5, 10, 15, and 20 bilayers by layer-by-layer technique using polydimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride (PDAC) and prepared magnetic colloidal particles. The thin-film gradients were characterized for their roughness, morphology, and wettability. The developed gradient films and colloids were explored in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and hyperthermia. T1- and T2-weighted images and their corresponding signal intensities were obtained at 1.5 T. A decreasing trend in signal intensities with an increase in nanoparticle concentration in colloids and along the gradient was observed in T2-weighted images. The hyperthermia capability was also evaluated by measuring temperature rise and calculating specific absorption rates (SAR). The SAR of the colloids at 259 kHz, 327 kHz, and 518 kHz were found to be 156 W/g, 255 W/g, and 336 W/g, respectively. The developed magnetic combinatorial thin-film gradients present a significant potential for the future efficient simultaneous diagnostic and therapeutic bioapplications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zein is a major by-product of corn processing and has a wide range of applications in many fields due to its unique solubility and specific amino acid composition. The aim of this study is to hydrolyze zein stepwise using alcalase and proteinase K while considering the enzymatic hydrolysis sequence and assessing the zeinchelating ability, solubility, foaming, and emulsification properties of the zein hydrolysate. The antioxidant activity of Zn2+ chelating peptide was determined. Zinc-chelating ability was used as the evaluation index, and proteinase K was further hydrolyzed on the basis of alcalase hydrolysis. The optimal hydrolysis conditions were reaction time of 2 h, substrate concentration of 10 mg mL-1, enzyme addition amount of 2.8 U mg-1, reaction temperature of 60 °C, and hydrolysate chelation ability of 12.16 mg g-1, thereby corresponding to a degree of hydrolysis (DH) of 35.30 %. On the basis of the hydrolysis by proteinase K, alcalase was further hydrolyzed, and the optimal hydrolysis conditions were reaction time of 3 h, substrate concentration of 10 mg mL-1, enzyme addition amount of 8.0×105 U mg-1, reaction temperature of 50 °C, and hydrolysate chelation ability of 13.72 mg g-1, thereby corresponding to a DH of 29.32 %. Zein Zn2+-chelating peptide is significant for 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radicals, hydroxyl radicals, and ABTS·+. The clearance effect is positively correlated with the mass concentration of the polypeptide. Zein Zn2+-chelating peptide has good Zn2+ chelating ability and antioxidant activity. Hence, it has broad research prospects for new dietary supplements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface modification to obtain high dispersion stability and biocompatibility is a key factor for bio-application of upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs). A systematic study of UCNPs modified with four hydrophilic molecules separately, comparing their dispersion stability in biological buffers and cellular biocompatibility is reported here. The results show that carboxyl-functionalized UCNPs (modified by 3,4-dihydrocinnamic acid (DHCA) or poly(monoacryloxyethyl phosphate (MAEP)) with negative surface charge have superior even-distribution in biological buffers compared to amino-functionalized UCNPs (modified by (aminomethyl)phosphonic (AMPA) or (3-Aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES)) with positive surface charge. Subsequent investigation of cellular interactions revealed high levels of non-targeted cellular uptake of the particles modified with either of the three small molecules (AMPA, APTES, DHCA) and high levels of cytotoxicity when used at high concentrations. The particles were seen to be trapped as particle-aggregates within the cellular cytoplasm, leading to reduced cell viability and cell proliferation, along with dysregulation of the cell cycle as assessed by DNA content measurements. The dramatically reduced proportion of cells in G 1 phase and the slightly increased proportion in G 2 phase indicates inhibition of M phase, and the appearance of sub-G 1 phase reflects cell necrosis. In contrast, MAEP-modified UCNPs are bio-friendly with increased dispersion stability in biological buffers, are non-cytotoxic, with negligible levels of non-specific cellular uptake and no effect on the cell cycle at both low and high concentrations. MAEP-modified UCNPs were further functionalized with streptavidin for intracellular microtubule imaging, and showed clear cytoskeletal structures via their upconversion luminescence. Upconversion nanoparticles (UCNP) are an exciting potential nanomaterial for bio-applications. Their anti-Stokes luminescence makes them especially attractive to be used as imaging probes and thermal therapeutic reagents. Surface modification is the key to achieving stable and compatible hydrophilic-UCNPs. However, the lack of criteria to assess molecular ligands used for ligand exchange of nanoparticles has hampered the development of surface modification, and further limits UCNP's bio-application. Herein, we report a systematic comparative study of modified-UCNPs with four distinct hydrophilic molecules, assessing each particles' colloidal stability in biological buffers and their cellular biocompatibility. The protocol established here can serve as a potential guide for the surface modification of UCNPs in bio-applications. Image, graphical abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extracellular vesicles (EV) can transfer cellular molecules for specific intercellular communication with potential relevance in pathological conditions. We searched for the presence in plasma from coronary artery disease (CAD) patients of EV containing the adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR), a signalling receptor associated with myocardial ischaemia and whose expression is related to homocysteine (HCy) metabolism. Using protein organic solvent precipitation for plasma EV preparation and Western blotting for protein identification, we found that plasma from CAD patients contained various amounts of EV with ubiquitin bound to A2AR. Interestingly, the presence of ubiquitinated A2AR in EV from patients was dependent on hyperhomocysteinemia, the amount being inversely proportional to A2AR expression in peripheral mononuclear cells in patients with the highest levels of HCy. CEM, a human T cell line, was also found to released EV containing various amounts of ubiquitinated A2AR in stimulated conditions depending on the hypoxic status and HCy level of culture medium. Together, these data show that ubiquitinated A2AR‐containing EV circulate in the plasma of CAD patients and that this presence is related to hyperhomocysteinemia. A2AR in plasma EV could be a useful tool for diagnosis and a promising drug for the treatment of CAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of zein coating on the total bacterial count, total volatile base nitrogen and histamine in high (5.0 log CFU/g) and low (2.0 log CFU/g) spiked roasted rabbit legs stored at different temperature (-20, 4, 20, and 37 °C) were studied. At 37 °C, the preservation effect of zein film was not obvious. If storage temperature was below 37 °C, zein coating inhibited microbial breeding and histamine production significantly. Freezing (-20 °C) is an effective way to inhibit the growth of microorganisms and histamine accumulation. However, microbes breed rapidly when samples defrosted at 20 °C. Compared to samples without coating, samples coated zein can store for 48 h at room temperature, and the total volatile base nitrogen is still below the threshold (< 30 mg/100 g). These results can provide a reference for the production of high quality meat related products with zein coating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DEX and rhBMP2-loaded core-shell nanofiber membranes were synthesized by electrospinning method in one step. Zein/PLLA, Zein-DEX/PLLA, Zein/PLLA-rhBMP2, and Zein-DEX/PLLA-rhBMP2 were fabricated; and morphology, hydrophilicity, mechanics properties, in vitro drug release behavior, cell proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation were investigated. The results showed that the dual-release system containing rhBMP2 and DEX prepared by electrospinning had rough surface, constant drug release behavior, and could also significantly promote cell proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of RMSCs, indicating that the scaffolds we fabricated might be suitable for bone tissue engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, the antioxidant and antimicrobial effects of essential oil (EO) and extract of Pimpinella affinis on the shelf life of rainbow trout during storage at refrigerator temperature based on three indicators of microbial, chemical and sensory quality parameters were evaluated. For this purpose, fish samples were stored in zein coatings containing 1.00% EO and 2.00% extract and in combination treatment containing 1.00% of each of them in refrigerator for 12 days. All of treatments were analyzed for microbiological count (Enterobacteriaceae, psychrophilic bacteria, mesophilic bacteria and pseudomonas bacteria) and chemical including pH, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), total volatile base nitrogen, peroxide value (POV) and free fatty acids (FFAs) and sensory (odor, color and texture) characteristics. Results showed that the highest levels of three factors including TBARS, POV and FFAs were related to the control sample and the least amount of these parameters was observed in EO and extract combination treatments. This effect of combined treatment was also observed in the reduction of total volatile basic nitrogen and pH parameters. Total bacterial counts during storage in fish treated with the extract and EO were remained below the acceptable level and microbial spoilage was significantly decreased compared to control. According to the sensory evaluation, treatments containing EO and extract showed improvement in this index compared to control treatment during storage. Based on the results of this study, it can be concluded that the EO and extract of P. affinis as active ingredients in zein coating successfully improve the quality and shelf life of the fish in the refrigerator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work analyzed the effect of quinoa flour and zein protein on the rheological, structural, and physicochemical characteristics of gluten-free pasta throughout the production process. Supplementing corn flour with quinoa increased dough protein content and greatly decreased the elastic behavior of the dough. Water diffusivity in the dough matrix during the drying process decreased in the presence of quinoa and was related to the smooth homogeneous surface of the dough. Cooking quality of the final product was explained in terms of the rheological and microstructural characteristics using mathematical models that related dough composition with structural parameters. The presence of zein seemed to weaken the protein network; microstructure was more crumbly with starch granules not completely embedded in the carbohydrate-protein matrix. These structural features explained the lower cooking time, higher breakability, and low cohesiveness of cooked zein-containing pasta. The addition of zein negatively altered the structure of pasta, whereas quinoa flour resulted in a cooked product with good textural properties and higher protein content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Active component delivery system was fabricated by anti-solvent precipitation. • A stable interfacial film is formed in GA-zein-curcumin due to an electrostatic effect. • GA-zein-curcumin system showed good stability under certain environment conditions. Abstract To evaluate the performance of biopolymer fabricated nanoparticle under commercial processing conditions, the stability of gum Arabic (GA)-zein-cur (curcumin) colloidal system was recorded and analyzed. The results showed that GA-zein-cur system is colloidal stable in the pH range of 5–8, however, encapsulated curcumin degraded rapidly as long as the pH changes. As for processing temperature, more than 70 °C will affect the spatial structure of zein and leading to the leak or exposure of encapsulated curcumin which result in the degradation of curcumin. Na+ has no significant effect on colloidal and chemical performance of nanoparticles while Fe3+ could penetrate the zein nanosphere and compromise curcumin. Results of our work imply that the protein-based core-shell delivery system has advantages in solubilizing the hydrophobic compounds and has certain ability to protect the encapsulated material against the unfavorable environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Abstract The formation of zein/Tween-20 nanoparticles through the antisolvent precipitation method at various Tween-20 concentrations (C Tween-20) has been investigated using dynamic light scattering, surface tension, fluorescence, and circular dichroism. When C Tween-20 increases from 0 to 0.2 g/L, the particle sizes of zein/Tween-20 nanoparticles significantly decrease from 140 to 95 nm, followed by nearly constant values of 90–92 nm at C Tween-20 = 0.2–4 g/L. Compared to Tween-20, zein/Tween-20 nanoparticles give smaller values of surface tension at C Tween-20 = 0–2.8 g/L, and almost the same values at C Tween-20 higher than 2.8 g/L. The values of fluorescence maximum intensity and α-helix content of zein molecules in zein/Tween-20 nanoparticles show pronouncedly different changes at C Tween-20 = 0–0.2, 0.2–2.8, and 2.8–4 g/L. The formation of zein/Tween-20 nanoparticles is proposed to be induced by the aggregation of zein/Tween-20 complexes mainly driven by the hydrophobic force. Zein/Tween-20 complexes exhibit different structural properties at low, intermediate, and high Tween-20 concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geraniol was successfully micro-encapsulated with zein in a one-step phase separation process in which the zein and geraniol were both initially dissolved in a water-ethanol mixture. Microcapsules were only formed at geraniol-to-zein mass ratios above unity. This is ascribed to the relative solubility of the oil and protein in the solvent at the point of incipient phase separation: The geraniol must phase separate first before zein precipitation commences. The resultant oil droplets subsequently provide the interfacial surfaces that act as nucleation sites for the precipitation of the amphoteric zein molecules on continued dilution with water. The near spherical microcapsules formed under these conditions, comprised a foamed closed-cell wall that enclose large internal cavities in which the geraniol was trapped. The highest particle yield, 85.3%, and oil encapsulation efficiency, 83.5%, were obtained at a geraniol to zein mass ratio of 3:1. The particle size distribution for this system was log-normal with d10, d50 and d90 values of 10, 32 and 88 µm respectively. The temperature dependent geraniol release rate from these capsules followed power law kinetics with a release exponent of 0.80. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), prolamin storage proteins of cereal seeds form very large, ordered heteropolymers termed protein bodies (PBs), which are insoluble unless treated with alcohol or reducing agents. In maize PBs, 16-kD γ-zein locates at the interface between a core of alcohol-soluble α-zeins and the outermost layer mainly composed of the reduced-soluble 27-kD γ-zein. 16-kD γ-zein originates from 27-kD γ-zein upon whole-genome duplication and is mainly characterized by deletions in the N-terminal domain that eliminate most Pro-rich repeats and part of the Cys residues involved in inter-chain bonds. 27-kD γ-zein also forms insoluble PBs when expressed in transgenic vegetative tissues. We show that in Arabidopsis leaves, 16-kD γ-zein assembles into disulfide-linked polymers that fail to efficiently become insoluble. Instead of forming PBs, these polymers accumulate as very unusual threads that markedly enlarge the ER lumen, resembling amyloid-like fibers. Domain-swapping between the two γ-zeins indicates that the N-terminal region of 16-kD γ-zein has a dominant effect in preventing full insolubilization. Therefore, a newly evolved prolamin has lost the ability to form homotypic PBs, and has acquired a new function in the assembly of natural, heteropolymeric PBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanofibers fabricated by electrospinning simulate the extracellular matrix of bone cells and so researchers have taken a keen interest in them for regenerating bone tissue. The aim of this study was to fabricate ideal Zein/PLLA nanofibers by coaxial electrospinning and to load them with bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) and dexamethasone (DEX) for dual controlled-release for bone tissue engineering applications. Morphology, surface hydrophilicity and core-shell construction were analyzed by environmental scanning electron microscopy (SEM), water contact angle and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The properties of the scaffolds were studied in terms of the viability, morphology and osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) that had been cultured on nanofiber mats of the Zein/PLLA and were determined using SEM, CCK-8 assay, quantitative ALP staining analysis, quantitative mineral deposition using Alizarin red staining (ARS), immunofluorescence staining and western blot analysis of osteogenic proteins. In vitro studies demonstrated that the biological activity of DEX and BMP-2 was retained in the dual-drug-loaded nanofiber scaffolds. A large quantity of DEX was released in the first three days, while the release of BMP-2 lasted for more than 21 days. In vitro osteogenesis studies showed that the drug-loaded nanofiber scaffolds induced osteogenic differentiation. Furthermore, the dual controlled-release of BMP-2 and DEX enhanced the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs resulting from synergistic effects. Therefore, Zein/PLLA nanofiber scaffolds loaded with BMP-2 and DEX have great potential in bone tissue engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose behind the work was to fabricate alginate beads with better drug loading and extended drug release. Ispaghula was used to enhance the drug loading while zein was employed to extend the drug release. Ibuprofen was employed as a model drug in this study. Ibuprofen-loaded alginate beads with and without ispaghula were prepared using vibration technology and coated with zein. The beads prepared with alginate alone were shown to have loading and entrapment efficiencies of 35% and 70% w/w, respectively. Addition of ispaghula in alginate showed a significant increase (p < 0.05) in the drug loading (42% w/w) and entrapment efficiency (84% w/w). Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed the presence of ispaghula and zein coating in the alginate beads as well as the ibuprofen loading. Scanning electron microscopy revealed better spherical geometry in the beads with ispaghula. The surface morphology of the uncoated beads was rough due to crystalline and surface drug. The zein coating has produced a smoother surface and particle adhesion. Differential scanning calorimetry has shown a reduction in drug crystallinity. Alginate beads extended the drug release for 4 h and the presence of zein extended the release for 6 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zein, a prolamin of corn, is a bio-renewable resource that can potentially offer alternatives for petroleum-based polymers in many applications. Nanocomposite formation with the addition of silicate nanoparticles (Laponite) to zein films, cast from 70% ethanol solutions, significantly improved the mechanical, thermal and barrier properties. Based on FTIR findings, a mechanism for zein–Laponite nanocomposite formation is proposed, which suggests Laponite nanoparticles bind to zein molecules through Si–N bond formation. Structural characteristics investigated using AFM and TEM confirmed exfoliation of the nanoparticle. The changes in the surface energy of the films were evaluated using water contact angle measurements and showed an increase in surface hydrophobicity. The Young’s modulus and tensile strength increased with nanoparticle concentration. The glass transition temperature increased, and water vapor permeability decreased with only a small amount of Laponite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Maize kernels do not contain enough of the essential sulphur‐amino acid methionine (Met) to serve as a complete diet for animals, even though maize has the genetic capacity to store Met in kernels. Prior studies indicated that the availability of the sulphur (S)‐amino acids may limit their incorporation into seed storage proteins. Serine acetyltransferase (SAT) is a key control point for S‐assimilation leading to Cys and Met biosynthesis, and SAT overexpression is known to enhance S‐assimilation without negative impact on plant growth. Therefore, we overexpressed Arabidopsis thaliana AtSAT1 in maize under control of the leaf bundle sheath cell‐specific rbcS1 promoter to determine the impact on seed storage protein expression. The transgenic events exhibited up to 12‐fold higher SAT activity without negative impact on growth. S‐assimilation was increased in the leaves of SAT overexpressing plants, followed by higher levels of storage protein mRNA and storage proteins, particularly the 10‐kDa δ‐zein, during endosperm development. This zein is known to impact the level of Met stored in kernels. The elite event with the highest expression of AtSAT1 showed 1.40‐fold increase in kernel Met. When fed to chickens, transgenic AtSAT1 kernels significantly increased growth rate compared with the parent maize line. The result demonstrates the efficacy of increasing maize nutritional value by SAT overexpression without apparent yield loss. Maternal overexpression of SAT in vegetative tissues was necessary for high‐Met zein accumulation. Moreover, SAT overcomes the shortage of S‐amino acids that limits the expression and accumulation of high‐Met zeins during kernel development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrolysis of food proteins is a convenient and feasible way to produce amphipathic and low cost peptides. In this study, three deamidated zein peptides were produced from zein via 36, 96 and 144 h alkaline hydrolysis reaction at 37 °C. Longer hydrolysis reaction produced smaller peptides with more carboxyl groups. Changing aqueous solution pH from 4.0 to 8.0, the peptides carried more negative charges that reduced the aggregation of the peptides. In vitro cytotoxicity study verified that the peptides were much safer than sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). In pH 4.0–8.0 aqueous solutions, the peptides presented better surface activities than SDS. The apparent critical micelle concentration (CMC) values of the peptides were much smaller than the CMC value of SDS, the pC 20 values (ability to reduce surface tension of 20 mN/m) of the peptides were much larger than the pC 20 value of SDS, and the surface pressure π CMC values of the peptides were similar to the value of SDS. In addition, the peptides had non-foaming property, good emulsifying capacity and emulsion stability at acidic condition. This study demonstrates that renewable, safe, degradable and low cost peptides produced by hydrolysis of food protein have excellent surface activities. Deamidated zein peptides with adjustable hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity are promising alternatives to chemical surfactants in food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For biomedical applications such as soft tissue engineering, plant proteins are becoming increasingly attractive. Zein, a class of prolamine proteins found in corn, offers excellent properties for application in the human body, but has inferior mechanical properties and lacks aqueous stability. In this study, electrospun scaffolds from neat zein and zein blended with prepolymer and mildly cross-linked poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS) were fabricated. Less toxic solvents like acetic acid and ethanol were used. The morphological, physiochemical and degradation properties of the as-spun fiber mats were determined. Neat zein and zein-PGS fiber mats with high zein concentration (24 wt % and 27 wt %) showed defect-free microstructures. The average fiber diameter decreased with increasing PGS amount from 0.7 ± 0.2 μm to 0.09 ± 0.03 μm. The addition of PGS to zein resulted in a seven-fold increase in ultimate tensile strength and a four-fold increase in failure strain, whereas the Young's Modulus did not change significantly. Degradation tests in phosphate buffered saline revealed the morphological instability of zein containing fiber mats in contact with aqueous media. Therefore, the fibers were in situ cross-linked with N-(3-Dimethylaminopropyl)-N'-ethylcarbodiimide (EDC)/N-Hydroxysuccinimide (NHS), which led to improved morphological stability in aqueous environment. The novel fibers have suitable properties for application in soft tissue engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, food proteins with bioactivity have been studied for cancer treatment. Zein peptides have shown an important set of bioactivities. This work compares the cytotoxic activity of zein hydrolyzed, extracted from four Zea species: teosinte, native, hybrid, and transgenic (Teo, Nat, Hyb, and HT) in a hepatic cell culture. Zein fraction was extracted, quantified, and hydrolyzed. Antioxidant capacity and cytotoxicity assays were performed on HepG2 cells. The levels of expression of caspase 3, 8, and 9 were evaluated in zein-treated cell cultures. Zea parviglumis showed the highest zein content (46.0 mg/g) and antioxidant activity (673.40 TE/g) out of all native zeins. Peptides from Hyb and HT showed high antioxidant activity compared to their native counterparts (1055.45 and 724.32 TE/g, respectively). Cytotoxic activity was observed in the cell culture using peptides of the four Zea species; Teo and Nat (IC50: 1781.63 and 1546.23 ng/mL) had no significant difference between them but showed more cytotoxic activity than Hyb and HT (IC50: 1252.25 and 1155.56 ng/mL). Increased expression of caspase 3 was observed in the peptide-treated HepG2 cells (at least two-fold more with respect to the control sample). These data indicate the potential for zein peptides to prevent or treat cancer, possibly by apoptosis induction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, we investigated the structure and selected functional properties of zein protein as treated with subcritical water. The results showed that subcritical water treatment, with different time (20-120 min) and temperatures (110-170°C), increased the solubility, foam capacity, and foam stability of zein protein significantly (p < 0.05). Analyses of particle size analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, circular dichroism spectra, scanning electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy indicated that subcritical water treatment improved the thermal stability and the denaturation temperature of zein protein, as well as increased slightly in the percentage of ordered structural elements within the protein molecule. In addition, the particle size of zein protein increased and the surface became rough significantly. All these suggested that subcritical water is a potential green chemical, which could highly be used to change the structure and improve the functional properties of zein protein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • • ZMF self-assembled from zein and mangiferin with size of about 150 nm were developed. • • ZMF can eliminate a broad range of reactive species and inhibit the activation of macrophages. • • ZMF exert synergistic prevention and treatment of inflammation-related acute liver injury. • • ZMF demonstrate targeting ability toward inflammatory sites, high efficacy and low toxicity. Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) are key signaling molecules that play an important role in the progression of inflammatory diseases. Although various antioxidants have RONS scavenging properties, they are difficult to be used to cope with acute inflammation which requires inflammatory site-targeting, effective anti-inflammatory activity, and low toxicity. In this work, we developed a safe and effective nano-antioxidant ZMF formed by simply self-assembly of natural plant protein zein and natural drug mangiferin for the synergistic treatment of inflammation-related acute liver injury. ZMF could eliminate RONS, inhibit the activation of macrophages, and modulate the level of inflammatory cytokines through the synergistic effects of mangiferin and zein. In addition, in the mouse models of inflammation-related acute liver injury, ZMF showed superior efficacy in reducing inflammatory reactions. Importantly, the preliminary in vitro and in vivo experiments proved the good safety of ZMF. This study proved the remarkable anti-inflammatory activities of nanomedicine self-assembled by RONS-eliminating natural products, which could provide a reference for the green development of efficient nano-antioxidant from natural products for the treatment of inflammation-related diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Ellagic acid loaded-zein nanoparticles demonstrated a sustained release profile under different pH. • The nanoparticles presented an inhibitory potential against hyaluronidase, lipoxygenase, elastase, collagenase and tyrosinase. • The nanoparticles showed limited cytotoxicity over keratinocytes and did not present hemolytic activity. • Nanoparticles presented a remarkable sun protection factor. Zein has demonstrated the ability to carry different therapeutic molecules in the form of nano delivery systems. Ellagic acid (EA) has improved its biological properties when associated with zein. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the biopharmaceutical and in vitro pharmacological potential on skin maintenance and repairing processes, sun protection and cytotoxicity. The nanoparticles were produced by nanoprecipitation and characterized in terms of morphology, size, polydispersity, zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency, drug loading and release efficiency. The effect of ellagic acid loaded-zein nanoparticles over enzymes related to the skin protective and repairing processes was accessed. Anti-hyaluronidase, anti-lipoxygenase, anti-elastase, anti-collagenase, anti-tyrosinase and photoprotective activities were determined spectrophotometrically, while the hemolytic activity was evaluated using erythrocytes and MTT and NRU assays were used to evaluate the cytotoxicity over immortalized human keratinocytes (HaCaT) and squamous carcinoma cells (A431). The chemical interactions between EA and zein were studied by steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy. EA-loaded zein nanoparticles (NE) were spherical, homogeneous and monodisperse, with a size of 370 nm, encapsulation efficiency over 82%. The nanoparticles demonstrated a sustained release profile under different pH. Regarding the anti-enzymatic activities, NE presented an inhibitory potency over 38% for all enzymes tested. NE did not present hemolytic activity and showed limited cytotoxicity over HaCaT cells. Moreover, NE also presented an SPF of 29.88. The interaction between zein and EA was driven by a dynamic quenching mechanism. Therefore, NE present a great potential to aid in skin protection/repairing processes, such as wound treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Edible films (EFs) have gained great interest due to their ability to keep foods safe, maintaining their physical and organoleptic properties for a longer time. The aim of this work was to develop EFs based on a chitosan-zein mixture with three different essential oils (EOs) added: anise, orange, and cinnamon, and to characterize them to establish the relationship between their structural and physical properties. The addition of an EO into an EF significantly affected (p < 0.05) the a* (redness/greenness) and b* (yellowness/blueness) values of the film surface. The EFs presented a refractive index between 1.35 and 1.55, and thus are classified as transparent. The physical properties of EFs with an added EO were improved, and films that incorporated the anise EO showed significantly lower water vapor permeability (1.2 ± 0.1 g mm h-1 m-2 kPa-1) and high hardness (104.3 ± 3.22 MPa). EFs with an added EO were able to inhibit the growth of Penicillium sp. and Rhizopus sp. to a larger extent than without an EO. Films' structural changes were the result of chemical interactions among amino acid side chains from zein, glucosamine from chitosan, and cinnamaldehyde, anethole, or limonene from the EOs as detected by a Raman analysis. The incorporation of an EO in the EFs' formulation could represent an alternative use as coatings to enhance the shelf life of food products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the effect of lauric acid and wheat gluten on physico-chemical and mechanical properties of zein-based edible films was studied. Edible films based on thermoplastic zein containing different amount of lauric acid and wheat gluten were obtained through two step procedures: melt mixing and subsequent compression molding. Results highlighted that the addition of lauric acid brought about an increase in tensile modulus and maximum stress and a decrease of water vapor permeability of zeinbased edible films. This behavior can be attributed to the increase of the hydrophobic character of the produced films. On the other hand, the addition of wheat gluten induced a reduction of water vapor permeability without affecting their mechanical properties. The best compromise between barrier and mechanical properties was observed for the thermoplastic zein-based films containing 11% and 15% of lauric acid and wheat gluten, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Periodontitis is a widespread dental disease affecting 10 to 15% of worldwide adult population, yet the current treatments are far from satisfactory. The human periodontal ligament stem cell is a promising potential seed cell population type in cell-based therapy and tissue regeneration, which require appropriate scaffold to provide a mimic extracellular matrix. Zein, a native protein derived from corn, has an excellent biodegradability, and therefore becomes a hotspot on research and application in the field of biomaterials. However, the high hydrophobicity of zein is unfavorable for cell adhesion and thus greatly limits its use. In this study, we fabricate co-electrospun zein/gelatin fiber scaffolds in order to take full advantages of the two natural materials and electrospun fiber structure. Zein and gelatin in four groups of different mass ratios (100:00, 100:20, 100:34, 100:50), and dissolved the mixtures in 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol, then produced membranes by electrospinning. The results showed that the scaffolds were smooth and homogeneous, as shown in scanning electron micrographs. The diameter of hybrid fibers was increased from 69 ± 22 nm to 950 ± 356 nm, with the proportion of gelatin increase. The cell affinity of zein/gelatin nanofibers was evaluated by using human periodontal ligament stem cells. The data showed that hydrophilicity and cytocompatibility of zein nanofibers were improved by blended gelatin. Taken together, our results indicated that the zein/gelatin co-electrospun fibers had sufficient mechanical properties, satisfied cytocompatibility, and can be utilized as biological scaffolds in the field of tissue regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vapor deposition can directly produce ultrastable glasses which are similar to conventional glasses aged over thousands of years. The highly mobile surface layer is believed to accelerate the ageing process of vapor-deposited glasses, but its microscopic kinetics have not been experimentally observed. Here we study the deposition growth kinetics of a two-dimensional colloidal glass at the single-particle level using video microscopy. We observe that newly deposited particles in the surface layer (depth, d < 14 particles) relax via out-of-cage diffusions of individual particles, while particles in the deeper middle layer (14 < d ≲ 100 particles) relax via activation of cooperative-rearrangement regions. These cooperative-rearrangement regions are much larger, more anisotropic and occur more frequently than cooperative-rearrangement regions in the bulk (d ≲ 100 particles) or after deposition. Cooperative-rearrangement regions move towards the surface and released free-volume bubbles at the surface, while the particles within cooperative-rearrangement regions move towards the bulk, resulting in a more compact bulk glass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various degradable biomaterials have been used to bridge injured peripheral nerve defect; however, drawbacks such as poor mechanical properties, inappropriate degradation rate, and toxic degradation products continue to limit the application of them in nerve repair. Considering the unique properties of zein, such as its biocompatibility, biodegradability and ease of fabrication, we report the use of zein conduits to repair injured rat sciatic nerves with a 10-mm defect. Three-dimensional zein conduits were designed with/without pores, and with/without microtubes including in the lumen of conduits. Zein conduit with microtubes yielded satisfactory results in sciatic function index (SFI), proximal compound muscle action potentials, density of myelinated nerve fibres and myelin thickness, which were not inferior to autograft but slightly superior to the hollow conduit at the 4th month post-implantation. The conduits degraded almost completely within two months, which was shorter than the suggested period of four months. Thus, the use of a porous conduit with microtubes inside as the guidance may play important roles in successful repair. Notably, the regulatory body will more likely approve designs employing a single component, such as the natural polymer zein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of high-pressure homogenization on the droplet size and physical stability of different formulations of pectin-zein stabilized rice bran oil emulsions. The obtained emulsions, both before and after passing through highpressure homogenizer, were subjected to stability test under environmental stress conditions, that is, temperature cycling at 4 °C/40 °C for 6 cycles and centrifugal test at 3000 rpm for 10 min. Applying high-pressure homogenization after mechanical homogenization caused only a small additional decrease in emulsion droplet size. The droplet size of emulsions was influenced by the type of pectin used; emulsions using high methoxy pectin (HMP) were smaller than that using low methoxy pectin (LMP).This is due to a greater emulsifying property of HMP than LMP.The emulsions stabilized by HMP-zein showed good physical stability with lower percent creaming index than those using LMP, both before and after passing through high-pressure homogenizer. The stability of emulsions after passing through high-pressure homogenizerwas slightly higher when using higher zein concentration, resulting from stronger pectin-zein complexes that could rearrange and adsorb onto the emulsion droplets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A biodegradable material, zein, is proposed as a reagent delivery platform for biokits and biosensors based on alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity/inhibition in the presence of phosphatase substrates. The immobilization and release of both the substrate and/or the active ALP, in a biodegradable and low-cost material such as zein, a prolamin from maize, and in combination with glycerol as plasticizer have been investigated. Three zein-based devices are proposed for several applications: (1) inorganic phosphorus estimation in water of different sources (river, lake, coastal water and tap water) with a detection limit of 0.2 mg/L – compared to at least 1 mg/L required by legislation, (2) estimation of ALP in saliva and (3) chlorpyrifos control in commercial preparations. The single-use kits developed are low cost, easy and fast to manufacture and are stable for at least 20 days at −20 °C, so the zein film can preserve and deliver both the enzyme and substrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the rich phytochemical composition of the medicinal mushroom Ganoderma lucidum, especially its ß-glucan-based polysaccharides and triterpenes, but polyphenols, amino acids, and proteins as well, Ganoderma is often used in various nutraceutical and functional food products. Lately these products have been formulated with microencapsulated forms of active compounds in order to prevent their degradation after oral consumption and under processing conditions. The aim of this study was to characterize and encapsulate polyphenols from the aqueous extract of Ganoderma, using ionic gelation of alginate (A) and its combination with whey protein isolates (WPI) and zein (Z). The obtained hydrogel beads were scanned for physico-chemical and morphological properties, encapsulation efficiency of polyphenols, and their release kinetics in simulated gastrointestinal fluids. The addition of WPI to the alginate resulted in the reduction of the particle size and the spherical shape of the beads, while beads formulated with zein were characterized as larger, with irregular morphology. Encapsulation efficiency of total polyphenols has been determined as follows: 76.91% (A-WPI) < 83.91% (A) < 85.42% (A-Z). The most extended release of polyphenols in simulated gastrointestinal fluids has been achieved by employing WPI in the alginate delivery system. The implementation of additional coatings resulted in the enhanced properties of plain alginate carrier, where alginate-based hydrogels immobilizing Ganoderma polyphenols proved to be potential functional ingredients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incorporation of drug nanocrystal (DNC) into a particulate carrier to form the DNC delivery system was conducted in this study, where 10-hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT) was selected as the model drug and zein was the carrier. The supercritical anti-solvent (SAS) process or the built-in ultrasonic dialysis process (BUDP) was applied to prepare HCPT NC-loaded zein microspheres (HCPT NC-Zein MS) at first respectively, but the results showed that the products obtained were unsatisfactory in their particle microstructures. Fortunately, by combining the SAS process with BUDP, i.e. the co-precipitation of HCPT and zein prepared using the SAS process was dispersed into ethanol–water as the dialysis solution for BUDP, the results showed that desirable HCPT NC-Zein MS were obtained. The formulations were evaluated quantitatively by an overall desirability function ( DF ), and the optimized HCPT NC- Zein MS was prepared according to the range analysis results of DF . Under the optimized conditions, HCPT NC-Zein MS with a mean particle size=1.10±0.12 µm, drug loading=5.98% and encapsulation efficiency=95.68% were obtained. The further characterizations of SEM, FT-IR, XRD and DSC demonstrated that HCPT NC was successfully incorporated into the interior of zein microspheres. The effects of the process parameters and the formation mechanism of HCPT NC-Zein MS were discussed in detail. Furthermore, it is presented that HCPT NC-Zein MS sustained HCPT release rate successfully, where about 50% HCPT was fast released in the first 20 h, then the release trend followed zero order kinetics and reached 70% in 82 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]