INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
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2025
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IF 8.5
Ying Liu,Min-hsiung Pan,Yi-shiou Chiou,Shudong Wei,Baomiao Ding
Zein, as an alcohol-soluble protein, in its native state is unsuitable for direct emulsion stabilization. In this study, zein was first subjected to alkali-heat treatment to enhance its hydrophilicity, obtaining alkali-heat-treated zein (AHZ). AHZ was then complexed with konjac glucomannan (KGM) to form AHZ-KGM complexes for stabilizing Pickering emulsions. Compared with AHZ alone, the AHZ-KGM complexes significantly improved emulsion stability, micromorphology, and microstructure. The emulsifying activity index (EAI) and emulsion stability index (ESI) of the emulsion increased to 50.251 m 2 /g and 48.893 min, respectively. Systematic analysis revealed that the complexes exhibited more fragmented and discrete micromorphologies, with KGM acting as a binder between AHZ particles. The surface and interfacial tensions of AHZ-KGM were significantly lower than those of AHZ. The complexes displayed smaller particle sizes (123.8 nm), more uniform distribution (0.239), and sufficient zeta potential (−25.3 mV). Moreover, the surface hydrophobicity and free sulfhydryl content of AHZ-KGM increased to 1473.1 (from 852.8) and 0.26 mmol/g (from 0.064 mmol/g), respectively, while the contact angle approached 90°, indicating enhanced amphiphilicity. Furthermore, spectral analysis revealed a decrease in α-helix content from 19.4 % (AHZ) to 17.3 % (AHZ-KGM), accompanied by an increase in β-sheet content from 18.6 % to 25.2 %. Hydrogen bonding played a key role in the interaction between the two monomers. These findings suggest that alkali-heat treatment combined with KGM complexation is a possible strategy for improving the emulsifying ability of zein, enabling its application in the stabilization of oil-in-water (O/W) Pickering emulsions.
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CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
·
2025
·
IF 13.2
Long Chen,Huahui Ren,Liang Li,Jihao Zuo,Jinting Cai,Ying Li,Huayao Chen,Li Hao,Hongjun Zhou,Zhanghua Zeng,Xinhua Zhou
The extensive use of conventional pesticide formulations poses potential environmental risks, highlighting an urgent need for eco-friendly alternatives. Pesticide microencapsulation has emerged as a promising approach to reduce application frequency and minimize environmental harm, owing to its high encapsulation efficiency and sustained-release capabilities. We developed an enzymatically degradable microcapsule using Pickering emulsion templates stabilized by sodium caseinate/zein composite protein nanoparticles (PNPs) with an average size of approximately 204 nm. Notably, the cross-linked PNP-based microcapsules exhibited a pesticide loading efficiency exceeding 74 %, high stability, and enabled accelerated release under enzyme-rich conditions. Field trials demonstrated that the degradable microcapsules provided time-dependent pest control, with efficacy improving from 67 % on day 2 to 83 % on day 15. In contrast, a commercial microemulsion showed rapidly declining effectiveness after the second day. These results underscore the ability of the microcapsules to extend the duration of pest management, despite slightly reduced initial activity. Furthermore, the encapsulation strategy markedly improved safety toward non-target organisms, exhibiting markedly lower adverse impacts on seed germination, zebrafish, and earthworms relative to commercial formulations. Importantly, the protein nanoparticle-based Pickering emulsion platform demonstrated broad applicability, enabling the successful encapsulation of various pesticide compounds.
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LWT-FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
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2025
·
IF 6.6
Yihong Zhou,Yang Xu,Peng Wang,Jing Zhang,Shangxing Chen,Dayong Peng,Zongde Wang,Yuling Yang,Hai Luo,Ji Zhang
Citral is one of the main components of everyday chemical fragrances and Its fragrance cannot be retained for long due to its active chemical properties. Currently, potentially toxic or expensive industrial surfactants are commonly used to emulsify flavors or essential oils, and most of the dispersed systems formed are thermodynamically unstable. In this study, modified corn protein was used as a solid particles and xanthan gum as a co-emulsifier to form an O/W type Pickering emulsion. Corn protein was modified with natural plant polyphenol–tannin to obtain solid particles with optimal amphiphilicity and antioxidant properties, and the particle size was approximately 170 nm. The Pickering emulsion was dispersed using a high-speed homogenizer. The percentage of encapsulated citral in the system was 20%. The particle size, polydispersity index, and citral encapsulation rate were 32.48 μm, 0.323, and 91.26%, respectively. The Pickering emulsion significantly improved the stability of the encapsulated citral, and the retention of citral in harsh environments (both high temperature and aerobic) was significantly increased. After one month of storage, the citral retention in the Pickering emulsion was 86.95% under aerobic conditions.
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INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
·
2025
·
IF 8.5
Weichen Wang,Yu Dai,Cuilin Cheng,Rongchun Wang,Jiapei Ma,Qiuju Jing
In this study, zein-gum Arabic (GA)-flaxseed gum (FG) nanoparticles (ZGF) were prepared using the anti-solvent and electrostatic deposition methods to overcome the hydrophobicity and instability of curcumin (CUR). Additionally, the optimal mass ratio of GA to FG (4:1) and CUR to zein (1:40) was determined. Additionally, the initial concentration of the polysaccharide (0.04 %) was determined and the ZGF nanoparticles encapsulated with CUR (CUR-ZGF) were optimized. The formed CUR-ZGF nanoparticles were spherical, with a particle size of 188 nm and an embedding rate of 96.8 %. Furthermore, the CUR-ZGF nanoparticles showed excellent pH, thermal, storage, and salt stability. The encapsulate CUR exhibited antioxidant capacity and controlled release rate in the gastrointestinal digestive system in vitro. Animal experiments showed CUR-ZGF nanoparticles significantly enhanced exercise capacity and anti-fatigue effects. High-dose CUR-ZGF nanoparticles doubled exhaustion running time versus the model group, improving exercise endurance. Fatigue-related biochemical parameters (serum urea nitrogen, serum lactate, and creatine kinase) were significantly reduced, indicating rapid fatigue elimination. Meanwhile, significantly increased lactate dehydrogenase and fasting glucose levels suggested efficient energy replenishment to mitigate fatigue damage. These results indicate CUR-ZGF nanoparticles may be a promising natural anti-fatigue healthcare product in the future.
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Food Packaging and Shelf Life
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2025
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IF 10.6
Hui Sun,Liming Zhang,Qinghe Yin,Tao Yang,Kai Wang,Haohao Shi,Jiamei Wang,Guanghua Xia,Yongqiang Zhao,Gang Yu
Despite numerous commercial and governmental initiatives, food spoilage and plastic packaging contamination persistently affect human health and the global economy significantly. In this study, a novel zein/polyethylene oxide/dihydroquercetin nanofiber film was developed using a green solution blow spinning (SBS) technique and applied to the preservation of yellowfin tuna. The resulting nanofibrous film demonstrated excellent antimicrobial activity, along with strong antioxidant and UV-blocking properties. Additionally, it exhibited biodegradability, aligning with the growing demand for environmentally sustainable packaging solutions. Moreover, zein and dihydroquercetin improved the thermal stability of the film, presumably via hydrogen bonds and various interactions. FTIR and XRD analyses validated the presence of hydrogen bonds and showed great compatibility among the components. TGA showed that the maximum thermal degradation temperature (T max , ranging from 333.2 to 342.6 ℃) was elevated for ZPD films in comparison to ZP film. Additionally, SEM and XRD assessments further illustrated the film's structural integrity and enhanced thermal stability. The effectiveness of the film in extending the shelf life of tuna was evaluated by monitoring key quality indicators, including total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and total viable count (TVC). The results showed that the nanofibrous film treatment decreased the levels of TVB-N, TBARS, and TVC, significantly slowing the deterioration of fish freshness and maintaining its quality for up to 8 days when stored at 4 ℃. The study offers a viable approach for improving food safety, prolonging shelf life, and reducing the environmental effects of traditional plastic packaging.
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Acta Biomaterialia
·
2017
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IF 6.319
Hongdi Wang,Wei Zhu,Yunna Huang,Zhixian Li,Yanbin Jiang,Qiuling Xie
Nano-drug delivery systems that integrate inorganic and organic or even bioactive components into a single nanoscale platform are playing a hugely important role in cancer treatment. In this article, the fabrication of a versatile nanocarrier based on self-assembled structures of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs)-zein is reported, which displays high drug-loading efficiency for needle-shaped hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT) nanocrystals . The surface modification with folate-conjugated polydopamine (PFA) renders them stable and also facilitates their selective cellular internalization and enhancement of endocytosis . The release of payloads from nanocomplexes (NCs) was shown to be limited at physiological pH (17.1 ± 2.8%) but significantly elevated at endosomal/lysosomal pH (58.4 ± 3.0%) and at enzymatic environment (81.4 ± 4.2%). Compared to free HCPT and its non-targeting equivalent, [email protected] exerted a superior tumor suppression capacity as well as low side effects due to its active and passive targeting delivery both in vitro and in vivo . These results suggest that the NCs with well-defined [email protected] nanostructures encapsulated with HCPT nanocrystals hold great promise to improve cancer therapy with high efficiency in the clinic. Statement of significance A novel nanocomplex with HCPT nanocrystals encapsulated was designed to achieve selective cellular uptake by endocytosis, acid responsive release in the tumor microenvironment and excellent tumor suppression without toxicity. This nanocomplex with conjugation of folate was stable in the bloodstream, with minimal drug release in extracellular conditions, leading to prolonged blood circulation and high accumulation in tumor tissues. The entrapment of a nanocrystal drug into nanomaterials might be capable of delivering drugs in a predictable and controllable manner.
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CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
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2025
·
IF 13.2
Jihao Zuo,Ruopeng Lan,Jinting Cai,Long Chen,Dongyan Yang,Huayao Chen,Li Hao,Ximing Zhong,Xinhua Zhou,Hongjun Zhou
Soil salinization poses a global agricultural challenge with significant economic implications for salt-sensitive cucumber ( Cucumis sativus L. ) cultivation. To address this issue, we developed a proline-functionalized zein nano delivery system (BR@AM-Zein-Pro) through amide coupling of proline to aminated zein (AM-Zein), followed by brassinolide (BR) encapsulation to form self-assembled architectures. BR@AM-Zein-Pro exhibits sustained release for BR, thereby extending the phytohormone's duration efficacy. Furthermore, proline functionalization enhances BR@AM-Zein-Pro penetration through cucumber seed coats, thereby improving osmotic regulation capacity. Crucially, cucumber seeds treated with BR@AM-Zein-Pro exhibited a 90–116.67 % higher germination potential than untreated salt-stressed seeds. Following seven days of growth, cucumber seedlings from seeds treated with BR@AM-Zein-Pro exhibited significant increases in root and stem length of 39.91 % and 43.81 %, respectively, compared to untreated salt-stressed seedlings. At the mature plant stage, foliar application of BR@AM-Zein-Pro to salt-stressed plants significantly enhanced superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) activities by 98.64 % and 56.42 %, respectively, relative to the untreated control group. Additionally, malondialdehyde (MDA) content decreased by 53.14 %, proline content reduced by 72.95 %, electrolyte leakage rate dropped by 22.48 %, and chlorophyll content increased by 50.33 %. Mechanistically, BR@AM-Zein-Pro enhances cucumber salt tolerance through synergistic coordination of osmotic adjustment, antioxidant defense activation, and photosynthetic efficiency maintenance. It is important that BR@AM-Zein-Pro significantly alleviated the phytotoxicity from high BR concentrations (>0.25 mg/mL) by maintaining optimal therapeutic levels, resolving the trade-off between efficacy and safety. This nano delivery system provides an innovative strategy for enhancing crop salt tolerance, offering transformative potential for agricultural sustainability and global food security.
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Applied Food Research
·
2025
·
IF 6.2
Wang-Wei Zhang,Rui-Xi Zhang,Xiu-Xiu Zhang,Zhi-Jing Ni,Kiran Thakur,Jian-Guo Zhang,Zhao-Jun Wei
This study successfully developed a ternary ZCP-PCPP nanocomposite using zein (ZN), chitosan (CS), and the polyphenols extracted from Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua (PCPP) to stabilize Pickering emulsions. The optimal ZN-CS was 2:1, which resulted in the ZCP-PCPP nanocomposite with the strongest encapsulation ability for PCPP, uniform particle size, and strong structural stability. Infrared spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction confirmed that ZN, CS, and PCPP interacted mainly through hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic forces. Stability analyses demonstrated that ZCP-PCPP markedly enhanced the physical stability and oxidative resistance of the emulsions. Furthermore, ZCP-PCPP nanoparticles at 3–5% (w/v) effectively protected β-carotene against thermal and ultraviolet degradation. These findings highlight that combining natural polymers with bioactive polyphenols provides an efficient strategy for producing stable Pickering emulsions with strong antioxidant protection potential.
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JOURNAL OF DRUG DELIVERY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
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2026
·
IF 4.9
Pei-Ling Liu,Jia-Lin Wang,Yi-Ying Dong,Hong Liu,Jin-Ju Lei,Bin Xu,Xin-Ru Liao,Di Han,Zi-Hao He,Si-Xue Cheng
Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) targeted cancer therapy offers high selectivity and reduced toxicity. However, the therapeutic efficacy is compromised by the poor bioavailability of hydrophobic drugs such as gefitinib (GEF), and the acquired resistance. Curcumin (CUR) can sensitize tumor cells toward EGFR inhibitors and reverse drug resistance, but its application is also hindered by low solubility. To address these limitations, we developed a zein-based drug delivery system for the co-delivery of GEF and CUR. The dual-drug loaded zein-based nanoparticles (GEF/CUR@ZNP) decorated by pectin were prepared by self-assembly. GEF/CUR@ZNP exhibited a mean diameter less than 300 nm, featuring a narrow size distribution and an encapsulation efficiency higher than 80 %. The therapeutic efficacy was evaluated in vitro using PC-9 cells. Compared with free drugs, GEF/CUR@ZNP led to significantly enhanced cellular uptake, resulting in improved induction of cancer cell apoptosis and higher efficiency in downregulation of proteins promote cancer progression (e.g., Sp1, Bcl-2, VEGF, Snail, and CD44). To evaluate the efficacy of the drug delivery system in a context more relevant to clinical settings, we evaluated the EGFR inhibition efficacy by using the blood samples containing circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, and immunofluorescence labeling confirmed that GEF/CUR@ZNP achieved most effective suppression of EGFR expression. These findings demonstrate that zein-based co-delivery of GEF and CUR can overcome multiple barriers to targeted cancer therapy, and offer a clinically relevant strategy for enhancing antitumor efficacy and personalizing cancer treatment.
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Foods
·
2026
·Vol. 15
·期 13
·2317
·
IF 6
Yi Yuan,Xinrui Luo,Jiaxin Wei,Li Yang,Cuntang Wang
Advancing bio-based intelligent packaging is crucial for improving food protection and prolonging storage duration. This research fabricated zein/citric acid (Z/CA) hybrid films embedded with Fu brick tea ethanol extract (FBTE) via a casting technique. The films were comprehensively assessed for their physicochemical attributes, mechanical strength, antioxidant and antimicrobial efficacy, and biodegradability. Findings indicated that FBTE inclusion notably improved film hydrophobicity and antioxidative power, elevating DPPH and ABTS radical quenching efficiencies by 83.75% and 89.33%, respectively. However, the incorporation of high-dose FBTE (8 wt%) increased the water vapor permeability by 57.19%, which was unfavorable for moisture barrier performance, and SEM showed surface morphology and phase segregation at 8 wt% FBTE. These hybrid films demonstrated specific antibacterial behavior against Gram-positive microorganisms. Importantly, the 6 wt% FBTE film exhibited obvious inhibitory effects on lipid oxidation, decreasing peroxide value by 68%. Observations during the 28-day soil burial degradation test revealed gradual morphological changes in the film samples. These results illustrate that Z/CA/FBTE hybrid films have possess potential application value in food active packaging.
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Foods
·
2026
·Vol. 15
·期 7
·1164
·
IF 6
Tahirou Sogore,Meimei Guo,Jin Huang,Xinyu Liao,Tian Ding,Mofei Shen
Foodborne pathogens cause hundreds of millions of illnesses annually, underscoring the urgent need for advanced antimicrobial food packaging materials. The objective of this study was to develop a crosslinked cyclodextrin metal–organic framework, loaded with gold nanoparticles (CL-AuNPs@CD-MOF) and integrated into a PLA-Zein composite film with humidity-responsive antimicrobial release, as a sustainable and high-performance packaging solution to address the critical limitations of conventional materials in controlling microbial contamination during food storage. Therefore, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were synthesized via a green approach using CD-MOFs as stabilizers and p-coumaric acid as a natural reducing agent, then crosslinked with diphenyl carbonate (DPC) to produce CL-AuNPs@CD-MOF. Crosslinking conditions were optimized to a CD-MOF:DPC ratio of 1:1, 1080 min reaction time, and 80 °C, preserving the cubic morphology and crystalline structure while transforming burst release into sustained antimicrobial activity againstE. coliandS. aureusover 7 days. Then, the incorporation of CL-AuNPs@CD-MOF into PLA-Zein films yielded a composite packaging material with favorable mechanical and barrier properties, including a water vapor transmission rate of 539.44 g/m2·24 h and an oxygen permeability of 235.90 cm3/m2·24 h·0.1 MPa. Progressive elimination ofE. coli,S. aureus, andL. monocytogenesover 7 days was confirmed, with antimicrobial efficacy originating exclusively from the CL-AuNPs@CD-MOF component. Application onAgaricus bisporusover 12 days of refrigerated storage demonstrated superior preservation performance: mushrooms inoculated withL. monocytogenesand packaged with CL-AuNPs@CD-MOF/PLA-Zein exhibited a weight loss of only 6.20 ± 2.06%, compared to 17.74 ± 3.15% for PLA-Zein and 41.50 ± 3.01% for PE controls. Color stability was equally improved, with lightness values of 71.46 ± 1.47 retained under CL-AuNPs@CD-MOF/PLA-Zein packaging, versus 58.37 ± 0.86 for PLA-Zein and 23.34 ± 2.34 for PE. Mushrooms inoculated withE. coliandS. aureusfollowed consistent trends. These results establish CL-AuNPs@CD-MOF/PLA-Zein as a promising multifunctional antimicrobial packaging platform for sustainable food preservation.
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JOURNAL OF NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY
·
2023
·Vol. 21
·期 1
·1-25
·
IF 10.2
Yan Haozhao,Hao Li,Chen Huayao,Zhou Xinhua,Ji Hongbing,Zhou Hongjun
Background There is a serious global problem of salinization of arable land, causing large reduction in world food production. Use of plant hormones is an effective way to reduce damage caused to crops and salt stress.Results In this study, PEI-EDA was modified with AM-zein and grafted with plant hormone SA (AM-zein-SA) and used as a nano-pesticide carrier to load emamectin benzoate (EB). The use of AM-zein-SA as a nano-pesticide carrier could reduce the damage caused by salt stress to crops. The structure of AM-zein-SA was characterized by FTIR, UV, fluorescence, Raman, and 1H NMR spectroscopic techniques. AM-zein-SA could effectively improve the resistance of EB to ultraviolet radiations, resistance of cucumber to salt stress, and the absorption of EB by plants. The experimental results showed that AM-zein-SA could effectively improve the anti-UV property of EB by 0.88 fold. When treated with 120 mmol NaCl, the germination rate of cucumber seeds under salt stress increased by 0.93 fold in presence of 6.25 mg/L carrier concentration. The POD and SOD activities increased by 0.50 and 1.21 fold, whereas the content of MDA decreased by 0.23 fold. In conclusion, AM-zein-SA nano-pesticide carrier could be used to improve the salt resistance of crops and the adhesion of pesticides to leaves.Conclusion AM-zein-SA, without undergoing any changes in its insecticidal activity, could simultaneously improve the salt stress resistance and salt stress germination rate of cucumber, reduce growth inhibition due to stress under high-concentration salt, and had a good effect on crops. In addition, EB@AM-zein-SA obviously improved the upward transmission rate of EB, as compared with EB. In this study, SA was grafted onto zein-based nano-pesticide carrier, which provided a green strategy to control plant diseases, insects, and pests while reducing salt stress on crops in saline-alkali soil.Graphical Abstract
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危险品化学品经营许可证（带存储）