Journal of Functional Foods
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2026
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IF 3.9
Mengdie Mo,Yan Zhang,Wanjun Chen,Haiqi Yu,Chudong He,Hua Yang,Weijie Zhou,Fei Yu,Xiao Dong Chen
Astaxanthin (AST), a natural lipid-soluble carotenoid, exhibits numerous advantageous biological activities. However, its widespread utilization is limited by strong hydrophobicity and poor stability. To overcome these limitations, the AST-loaded zein/sodium carboxymethyl cellulose composite nanoparticles (AZC NPs) were prepared primarily via electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonding. AZC NPs showed a spherical shape with a mean size of approximately 250 nm. As expected, due to its high negative zeta potential (−33.10 ± 2.72 mV) and the decoration of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, AZC NPs demonstrated excellent stability against different environmental stresses. Notably, AZC NPs possessed sustained-release behavior and better antioxidant activity compared to those of free AST. These findings suggested that AZC NPs had significant application potential in the food industry.
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POSTHARVEST BIOLOGY AND TECHNOLOGY
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2026
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IF 7.3
Jia Hu,Wen-Wen Zhou
Blueberries and grapes are highly susceptible to fungal infections during pre-harvest, transport, and postharvest stages, leading to substantial economic losses. Conventional control methods often involve high equipment costs and contribute to the emergence of drug-resistant pathogens. Recently, the antifungal potential of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) has gained increasing attention as a sustainable alternative. Bacillus amyloliquefaciens HJ-B8 was successfully screened for its dual functionality of direct contact inhibition and volatile-mediated inhibition against Penicillium expansum . The VOCs produced by HJ-B8 were analyzed revealing a complex profile with several compounds that may contribute to its antifungal effect. The interaction between natamycin (Nata) and the HJ-B8 strain was also explored, showing a synergistic effect on fungal inhibition. A novel antifungal coating system was developed by combining HJ-B8 and Nata-loaded zein nanoparticles (HJ-B8@Nata-Zein NPs@Amy-Fe²⁺) to enhance the preservation of blueberries and grapes. The antifungal activities of this coating were evaluated in vitro and in vivo . The coating was further characterized by evaluating particle size, zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency, and light stability and assessed the antifungal efficacy. The in vivo tests demonstrated that the coating effectively reduced the decay rate, weight loss, soluble solids content and anthocyanin levels in treated blueberries and grapes. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed improved preservation of fruit surface and flesh integrity. This opens up new possibilities for post-harvest preservation of berries using a synergistic antifungal coating system and provides a theoretical basis for related applications.
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JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
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2026
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IF 9.6
Shuheng Wei,Peng Tang,Like Wang,Yongkang Xi,Xiaonan Huang,Shouwei Yin
Bacterial resistance is a major factor compromising the efficacy of conventional antibiotics, particularly in the treatment of biofilm-associated infections. To tackle this critical challenge and enable antibiotic-free antimicrobial therapy, we developed a near-infrared (NIR)-activated photothermal-photodynamic therapy nanoplatform (UCNPs/Cur@Zein@PDA, denoted as UCZP), through an innovative Zein-based hierarchical integration strategy. Specifically, upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) and curcumin (Cur) were co-encapsulated within the hydrophobic core of Zein nanoparticles through self-assembly, followed by surface polymerization of polydopamine (PDA). Under 808 nm laser irradiation, the resulting UCZP nanoplatform exhibits efficient photothermal conversion and enhanced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, leading to rapid bacterial inactivation within 10 min via disruption of cell wall and membrane integrity, as well as inhibition of the respiratory chain. Moreover, the UCZP nanoplatform achieves effective eradication of mature biofilms under the same irradiation conditions. Collectively, this work establishes a NIR-activated synergistic ROS–thermal antibacterial paradigm and presents a promising colloidal strategy combating biofilm-associated infections.
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FOOD HYDROCOLLOIDS
·
2026
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IF 13.8
Ben Niu,Yineng Liu,Ruiling Liu,Xiangjun Fang,Weijie Wu,Hangjun Chen,Chuan Tong,Huizhi Chen,Haiyan Gao
Fresh walnuts are highly susceptible to microbial spoilage and oxidative browning, primarily due to their elevated moisture and fat content. To address this, an active Janus film (C film), fabricated from gelatin-sodium alginate and zein, was developed. This film provides a sustainable unidirectional moisture barrier and bacteriostatic properties. The active ingredient in C film is cinnamaldehyde (CIN). CIN showed 94.8% encapsulation efficiency in tannic acid nanoemulsions (CIN-Tas). Morphological analysis revealed hydrogen bonding between CIN-Tas and gelatin without significantly altering the film structure. The developed Janus film incorporating CIN-Tas exhibited enhanced thermal stability, antioxidant capacity, and mechanical properties. Water vapor permeability (WVP) values were 4.23×10 -7 and 1.49×10 -7 gPa -1 s -1 m -1 on either side, enabling external moisture barrier and internal moisture absorption. The CIN loaded films exhibited antimicrobial activity (inhibition zones: 3.19 cm against Penicillium cynodontis , 4.77 cm against Penicillium citrinum ). CIN release followed the Korsmeyer-Peppas model, sustaining release for 180 hours. A significant preservation effect was observed in fresh walnut storage experiments using C film coating. The decay rate was decreased by 20.34%. A decrease of 9.68% in malondialdehyde (MDA) content accumulation was recorded. Additionally, the rise in acid value (AV) and peroxide value (POV) was decreased by 25.21% and 7.99%, respectively. These results indicated that this packaging technology effectively inhibits microbial growth and maintains storage humidity, prolonging walnut freshness. It offers promising potential for extending food shelf life.
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Food Chemistry-X
·
2026
·
IF 9.2
Zhihua Liu,Lingying Chen,Xiaozhi Zheng,Junlin Li,Jiankun Ding,Chen Cai,Xiaofang Chen,Haiming Yu,Qunlong Pan
Conventional plastic packaging faces significant challenges due to its non-biodegradable nature and lack of active preservation functionality, leading to environmental pollution and food waste. To address these issues, this study developed a curcumin-zein composite film as a multifunctional active packaging material based on natural polymers. Systematic characterization confirmed that curcumin was incorporated into the zein matrix through intermolecular interactions. Functional evaluations demonstrated that the composite film exhibits excellent UV-shielding performance, remarkable antioxidant and antibacterial activities, as well as favorable biodegradability and biosafety. In preservation tests on cherry tomatoes and black grapes, the 5% Cur-Zein composite film effectively delayed fruit quality deterioration, reducing weight loss, color changes, and nutrient consumption. This study demonstrates that the Cur-Zein composite film represents a green and high-performance active packaging material with good potential for reducing food loss and extending the shelf life of fruits.
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JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
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2026
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IF 6.7
Zhao Jun,Tuo Wenbi,Xiong Siwei,Yi Xiaoli,Zhang Weidong,Tian Yunzhi,Du Yingying,Shu Yanqing,Jia Jiehao,Zhang Chen,Qu Yan
Resveratrol (Res) is a plant polyphenol with diverse
bioactivities,
yet its application is limited by poor water solubility and low bioavailability.
Therefore, an edible nanodelivery system composed of a zein/citric
acid complex was developed to encapsulate Res@ZC-NPs showed high encapsulation
efficiency, average particle size of 66.16 ± 1.19 nm and PDI
of 0.176. In vitro , ZC-NPs inhibited oxidative stress-induced
reactive oxygen species production and promoted cellular uptake. In vivo , the nanoparticles effectively delivered res to
the colon, prolonged its retention, alleviate dextran sulfate sodium
(DSS)-induced colitis in mice, preserve colonic tissue integrity,
restore intestinal barrier function, and partially reshape gut microbiota
composition. Overall, this study developed an oral nanosystem based
on natural edible materials, providing an ideal delivery strategy
for plant polyphenol-based active ingredients in treating ulcerative
colitis.
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FOOD HYDROCOLLOIDS
·
2018
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IF 5.089
Lingli Deng,Yang Li,Fengqin Feng,Hui Zhang
In this study, the gelatin/zein nanofibers were electrospun and then cross-linked by glucose via Maillard reaction . The morphology observations showed that the average diameter of the cross-linked gelatin/zein nanofibers decreased with the increasing weight ratio of zein . FTIR results indicated that gelatin and zein molecules were homogenously dispersed within the fibers, and the Maillard reaction occurred between the proteins and glucose. The addition of zein affected the mobility of the gelatin chains, leading to the decreased denaturation temperature. The cross-linked fibers with a 1:1 gelatin/zein ratio showed the most hydrophobic surface (water contact angle of 134°), and comparable mechanical properties to the cross-linked gelatin nanofibers, while a higher ratio of zein (more than 50%) resulted in the decreased elastic modulus. The L929 cell cytotoxicity test suggested that the cross-linked gelatin/zein nanofibers exhibited good biocompatibility and non-cytotoxicity.
研究领域:
材料科学
·
生物医学工程
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mBio
·
2026
·
IF 4.7
Yijie Wang,Xinyu Yu,Xinyu Zhang,Xiaohui He,Yongxin Tang,Ling Fang,Richard Culleton,Qingfeng Zhang,Weifu Dong,Jun Cao
Artemisinin antimalarial drugs initially exhibited remarkable efficacy against Plasmodium falciparum. However, their poor solubility and low bioavailability necessitate high doses and lead to an extremely short in vivo half-life. These limitations not only drive the emergence of drug-resistant Plasmodium strains but also compromise long-term therapeutic outcomes. Herein, we report a zein-based sustained release formulation, wherein zein, a natural maize protein, serves as a biocompatible nanocarrier to effectively encapsulate artemisinin (ART). Notably, this nanocarrier formulation achieves a 200-fold enhancement in ART’s water solubility, addressing a key bottleneck of ART-based therapies. In vitro assays confirm that the zein-based formulation allows for the sustained release of ART, which could help maintain therapeutic concentrations over extended periods and displayed different release rates and good dispersibility in both acid and basic environments. Importantly, in vitro evaluations also demonstrate that the nanoformulation exerts potent inhibitory effects against ART-resistant P. falciparum strains in both ring survival assay and recrudescence assay, attributed to the sustained maintenance of effective ART concentrations. In vivo studies, utilizing both rodent malaria models and humanized erythrocyte mouse models, further validate the nanoformulation’s therapeutic potential. The zein nanocarrier significantly prolongs ART’s in vivo half-life via its sustained-release capability, thereby maintaining effective blood concentrations over an extended duration. Compared to free ART, the nanoformulation exhibits superior efficacy in reducing parasitemia, preventing malaria recrudescence, and, most notably, overcoming ART resistance in drug-resistant Plasmodium infections. Collectively, these findings establish the zein-based nanocarrier as a promising strategy to optimize ART-based therapies by addressing solubility and pharmacokinetic limitations while effectively combating drug-resistant malaria.
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COLLOIDS AND SURFACES B-BIOINTERFACES
·
2023
·
IF 5.8
Zaifei Zhuang,Xin Cheng,Liyan Cao,Guiqiang He,Jian Zhou,Yanxia Wei
Textile dye wastewater has the characteristics of high concentration, complex composition and changeable color degree and pH, which is difficult to be effectively and completely treated, and easy to cause environmental pollution. Here, a strategy of secondary bond interface assembly of polyethyleneimine on zein microparticles (PEI) ( [email protected] ) was constructed to achieve rapid and efficient removal of Reactive Black 5 (RB5), which is one of the most widely used reactive dyes in the textile industry. Structural analysis indicated that the as-prepared PEI layer immobilized on zein microparticles was constructed based on the interface assembly dominated by hydrophobic interactions and electrostatic attraction between PEI molecules and zein chains. The novel interface showed excellent absorption performance for RB5 with an absorption capacity of 631.0 mg·g -1 , rapid adsorption in 2 min, wide pH range of 4–10. Mechanism analysis suggested the effective adsorption of RB5 by [email protected] microparticles was mainly attributed to secondary bond interface such as electrostatic interaction and hydrogen bond between RB5 and PEI immobilized on the surface of zein microparticles. Moreover, due to the presence of secondary bond interface, RB5 adsorbed on microparticles can be easily desorbed by using 0.01 M NaOH. Therefore, the strategy of secondary bond interface assembly with polyethyleneimine on zein microparticles has high potential for practical application in the treatment of dye-containing wastewater.
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SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
·
2023
·
IF 9.8
Hua-Jie Wang,Meng-Fei Hao,Guan Wang,Hao Peng,Fazli Wahid,Yan Yang,Lei Liang,Shan-Qin Liu,Ren-Long Li,Shu-Ying Feng
The complication of stent implantation is the biggest obstacle to the success of its clinical application. In this study, we developed a combination way of 3D printing and the coating technique for preparation of functional polyurethane stents against stent implantation-induced thrombosis and postoperative infection. SEM, XPS, static water contact angle, and XRD demonstrated that the functional polyurethane stent had a 37 μm-thickness membrane composed of zein nanospheres (250–350 nm). Meanwhile, ZnO nanoparticles were encapsulated in zein nanospheres while heparin was adsorbed on the surface, causing 97.1 ± 6.4 % release of heparin in 120 min (first-order kinetic model) and 62.7 ± 5.6 % release of Zn 2+ in 9 days (Korsmeyer-Peppas model). The mechanical analysis revealed that the functional polyurethane stents had about 8.61 MPa and 2.5 MPa tensile strength and bending strength, respectively. The in vitro biological analysis showed that the functional polyurethane stents had good EA.hy926 cells compatibility (97.9 ± 3.8 %), anti-coagulation response (comparable plasma protein, platelet adhesion and suppressed clotting) and sustained antibacterial activities by comparison with the bare polyurethane stent. The preliminary evaluation by rabbit ex vivo carotid artery intervention experiment demonstrated that the functional polyurethane stents could maintain blood circulation under the continuous stresses of blood flow. Meanwhile, the detailed data from the simulated implant infection experiment in vivo showed the functional polyurethane stents could effectively reduce microbial infection by 3–6 times lower and improve fibrosis and macrophage infiltration.
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Food Packaging and Shelf Life
·
2022
·
IF 8.749
Pengquan Zhao,Jiandong Wang,Xinyu Yan,Zihui Cai,Lina Fu,Qi Gu,Lin Liu,Haojie Jin,Yujie Fu
In this study, the bioactive extract of Rosa roxburghii Tratt (RRT) leaves was incorporated into a chitosan/zein matrix to produce a food packaging film with higher antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. The natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES) was taken as the extraction solvent and green plasticizer to prepare the film matrix. The physical and structural properties of chitosan/zein films with different concentrations of RRT leaves extracts were characterized by infrared spectroscopy analysis , thermogravimetric analysis , X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope. The incorporation of RRT leaves extract significantly improved the mechanical properties , light barrier properties and water vapor permeability of the chitosan/zein films. Moreover, the films containing RRT leaves extract had better antioxidant activities and antibacterial activities, with the highest DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities of 88.17 % and 86.84 %, respectively, and also effectively inhibited the growth of microorganisms and extended the shelf life of blueberries and cherry tomatoes .
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INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
·
2022
·
IF 8.025
Baoguang Wu,Shipei Zhang,Xiaofen Jiang,Pengfei Hou,Yuelin Xin,Lei Zhang,Jinsong Zhang,Deyi Zhou
The effect of weakly charged insoluble karaya gum (KG) on zein colloidal nanoparticles (ZKGPs) for stabilizing Pickering emulsions was investigated. Due to weak surface charge, KG could cover the surface of zein particles by hydrogen bonds and weak electrostatic interactions. With the increase in coverage, the zeta potential of ZKGPs changed from positive to negative values close to zero and the average particle size tended to become larger. The closest neutral wettability (89.85°) was achieved when the zein/KG mass ratio was 1:1. The samples prepared with high oil volume fraction (φ = 0.5–0.75) and high particle concentration (1.0–1.3 %, w / v ) formed emulsion gels easily and showed higher storage stability. CLSM images also confirmed that ZKGPs could be distributed in the continuous phase to enhance the emulsion network structure. Consequently, weakly charged ZKGPs reduced the emulsification energy barrier and increased the coverage and steric hindrance of particles at the oil/water interface. These findings provide new ideas for the development of stable Pickering emulsions for application in food textural modification as well as encapsulation and delivery of bioactive substances.
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