FOOD HYDROCOLLOIDS
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2017
·
IF 4.747
Lingli Deng,Xi Zhang,Yang Li,Fei Que,Xuefan Kang,Yuyu Liu,Fengqin Feng,Hui Zhang
In this work, the gelatin/zein nanofibers by hybrid electrospinning were fabricated. The morphology observations by field emission scanning electron microscopy showed that the diameter of gelatin/zein nanofibers was significantly increased with the increasing gelatin ratio. The results of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry indicated that gelatin and zein strongly interacted via hydrogen bonding. The homogeneous mixing resulted in the crystalline structure for the gelatin/zein nanofiber at a 1:1 wt ratio, which showed a hydrophobic surface (water contact angle of 118°). The mechanical tests showed that the gelatin/zein nanofibers with weight ratios of 1:3 and 1:2 gave rise to much higher elongation at break of 87.9% and 69.0%, indicating good deformability and flexibility. In contrast to the pure gelatin or zein nanofibers, the gelatin/zein fibers preserved the 3D porous structures after immersed in water or ethanol for 24 h.
研究领域:
材料科学
·
生物医学工程
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产品关联
DOI
高影响因子
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
·
2024
·
IF 7.7
Lingling Sha,Husnain Raza,Chengsheng Jia,Imran Mahmood Khan,Huqing Yang,Gang Chen
Polysaccharide-protein nanocomplexes are considered one of the desired systems to encapsulate bioactive compounds. The study prepared chitosan (CS)/genipin (GP)/zein nanoparticles with chemical cross-linkage for encapsulating and releasing curcumin. Fourier transform infrared spectra demonstrated that cross-linkage between molecules was attributed to electrostatic interactions and the formation of amido bonds and hydrogen bonding. Transmission electron microscopy showed that all prepared nanoparticles showed a spherical morphology. Particularly, cinnamaldehyde screening –NH 2 groups in CS significantly reduced the encapsulation efficiency of nanoparticles, demonstrating the significant role of the –NH 2 group in CS-coated zein nanoparticles. Additionally, the encapsulation efficiency was largely increased to 82.3 % at the ratio of CS/GP/zein ( w /w, 20:1:100), compared with 38.4 % using zein as a single encapsulation for curcumin. In vitro digestion, the addition of GP and CS decreased the release of curcumin from 84.8 % to 57.1 % after the initial digestion of 2 h. The GP/CS/zein particles retained 12 % of curcumin after 6- h of digestion, indicating the improvements in encapsulation efficiency and release properties.
研究领域:
食品科学
·
生物材料学
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DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY B
·
2026
·
IF 3.2
Min Huang,Yuanru Xu,Hao Li,Qingbo Jiao,Gerui Ren,Zexing Cao,Ruibo Wu,Ying Zheng,Qunfang Lei,Wenjun Fang,Hujun Xie
Metal ions can influence protein aggregation behavior through interactions with proteins during food processing, and a deeper understanding of these regulatory mechanisms is crucial for improving the structure and stability of food systems. In this study, the effect of Mg2+ on the aggregation behavior of Zein, Ovalbumin, and Zein–Ovalbumin complexes during thermal treatment was discussed using an aggregation kinetic model, and the relationship between protein conformational changes and protein aggregation behavior was revealed by combining theory with experiments. After the addition of Mg2+, the aggregation of Zein and Zein–Ovalbumin complexes was inhibited, while the aggregation of Ovalbumin was enhanced. The exposure of hydrophobic and free –SH groups of proteins was determined, thereby regulating the aggregation behavior of complexes. The thermal stability of protein complexes was also enhanced by electrostatic and hydrogen-bonding interactions between Zein and Ovalbumin, which was further validated via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulation. Mg2+ reduced the binding free energy between proteins within the Zein–Ovalbumin complexes through the electrostatic shielding effect, thereby affecting the energy contributions of key residues. This study provides valuable mechanistic insights for strategically utilizing metal ions such as Mg2+ to regulate protein aggregation and optimize functional properties of complex proteins.
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DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
FOOD HYDROCOLLOIDS
·
2025
·
IF 12.4
Xiaoyun Fei,Jiahao Luo,Chenfeng Xu,Deming Gong,Guowen Zhang
The low solubility of potato protein isolate (PPI) limits its application in the food industry. In this study, we prepared PPI-zein nanoparticles with PPI as a shell and zein as a core in a "core-shell" structure by pH-cycle method. Compared with PPI, the soluble protein content increased from 73.39 % to 85.93 % after zein was added. After the formation of PPI-zein nanoparticles, the content of α-helix decreased by 4.0 %, and the structure became looser. Molecular dynamics simulation showed that the conformation and flexibility of peptide 246-267 in patatin changed significantly, which may be the sites of its interaction with zein. The binding free energy and residue energy decomposition analysis showed that hydrophobic interaction was the main force to stabilize the complex, and the bond length formed by Leu-320 and Leu-6 was the shortest (0.32 nm), and the force was the strongest. Furthermore, when the mass ratio of PPI to zein was 7: 3, the particle size of the nanoparticles reached the minimum (134.03 nm), which was beneficial to its rapid diffusion at the interface ( K diff = 4.451). The expanded elastic modulus ( E d ) was always greater than the expanded viscous modulus ( E v ), forming an elastic interfacial film. The PPI-zein nanoparticles had better storage stability and environmental stability than PPI. This work may provide a scientific basis for the application of hydrophobic plant proteins as soluble nanoparticles in food.
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DOI
高影响因子
BIO-MEDICAL MATERIALS AND ENGINEERING
·
2015
·
IF 1.091
Liu Xing,Xie Yi,Li Wei,Sheng Wen,Li Yinping,Tong Zan,Ni Hong,Huselstein Celine,Wang Xiong,Chen Yun
A series of composite films were prepared from glycerol-plasticized starch and zein by intensive mixing and hot press. The structure and physical properties of the starch/zein (SZ) composite films were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), optical microscopy and water contract angle testing. The hemocompatibility and cytocompatibility of SZ films were evaluated by plasma recalcification time, hemolysis assay and cell culture experiment. SEM and optical observation showed that starch and zein domains can be differed in the films and in a two phase separation status. Glycerol affects the surface hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity of the films. The hemocompatibility and cytocompatibility evaluation showed that SZ composites are anticoagulant materials with no hemolysis and low cytotoxicity. The SZ composites maybe have potentials for applications as biomaterials.
研究领域:
生物医学工程
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材料科学
·
生物学
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DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
FOOD HYDROCOLLOIDS
·
2016
·
IF 3.858
Hualin Wang,Lilan Hao,Peng Wang,Minmin Chen,Suwei Jiang,Shaotong Jiang
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the release kinetics and antibacterial activities of curcumin (CUR) loaded in zein (zein-CUR) electrospun fibers towards Escherichia coli ( E. coli , 8099) and Staphylococcus aureus ( S. aureus , ATCC 6538). CUR was successfully loaded in zein fibers by electrospinning technique, and the encapsulation efficiency was close to 100% and the encapsulated CUR still retained its antioxidant capacity. The morphology and size of fibers strongly depended on CUR contents. The interaction between CUR and zein matrix was confirmed to be hydrogen bonding, and the addition of CUR caused a slight increase in the T g of zein matrix. The electrode process of CUR electrooxidation was diffusion-controlled and could be preceded by chemical reaction. The predominant release of CUR from fibers was Fickian diffusion, and First-order model and Hixson-Crowell model could well describe this diffusion behavior. The zein-CUR fibers showed good antibacterial activity towards S. aureus and E. coli , and the inhibition efficiency increased with the increase of CUR contents. However, the antibacterial activity towards S. aureus was better than that towards E. coli . The study displayed that the zein-CUR fibers might have potential as a promising material for antimicrobial applications to inhibit bacterial growth and propagation in active food packaging.
研究领域:
食品科学
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材料科学
·
微生物学
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DOI
高影响因子
JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE
·
2026
·
IF 3.1
Mengling Zhang,Chi Zhang,Mingfang Sun,Li Yuan,Gaiping Guo,Huafeng Tian,Yuge Ouyang,Rakesh Kumar
To address the adhesion problem of curcumin-containing zein fibers, sandwich-structured zein/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) membranes with a curcumin-functionalized core layer were fabricated via sequential electrospinning (outer-core-outer). The core layer exhibited flattened and adhesive fibers, whereas encapsulation within protective outer layers yielded cylindrical, non-adhesive fibers with tunable diameters (0.43–1.0 μm). The sandwich membranes exhibited enhanced mechanical properties (tensile strength up to 4.67 MPa) and stable hydrophobicity. Filtration tests demonstrated > 95% efficiency for 0.3 μm particles and > 97% for particles ≥ 0.5 μm, with pressure drop values ranging from 7.03 to 7.56 mbar. Post-filtration imaging revealed that curcumin-containing membranes displayed dispersed particle deposition on individual fibers, while the curcumin-free outer layer showed extensive particle aggregation, indicating curcumin-induced particle anchoring. FTIR analysis confirmed curcumin-mediated hydrogen bonding and increased β-sheet content. The sandwich design resolves core layer adhesion while preserving filtration functionality, offering a sustainable strategy for bio-based air filtration materials.
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DOI
高影响因子
COLLOIDS AND SURFACES B-BIOINTERFACES
·
2026
·
IF 5.9
Xiaomin Li,Wanping Li,Yijie Shi,Bingtian Zhao,Hang Jiang,Yunxing Li
PDRN regulates zein self-assembly to form multifunctional nanocomposite particle. • PDRN improved particle stability under diverse environmental stresses. • Zein/PDRN nanocomposite particle efficiently encapsulated and stabilized curcumin. • PDRN enhanced antioxidant activity and oxidative stress regulation of curcumin. • Curcumin-loaded nanocomposite particles improved cytocompatibility and migration. Reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced oxidative stress impedes efficient wound healing, while the therapeutic application of hydrophobic bioactive compounds is severely limited by poor water solubility, stability, and bioavailability. Herein, naturally derived zein/polydeoxyribonucleotide (Zein/PDRN) nanocomposite particles were fabricated through an antisolvent method to stabilize curcumin and enhance its biological activity. PDRN regulated zein self-assembly in a concentration-dependent manner, producing homogeneous nanocomposite particles with enhanced colloidal stability under diverse environmental conditions. Spectroscopic analyses and molecular docking revealed that electrostatic interactions, hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic interactions, and van der Waals interactions cooperatively contributed to particle formation and stabilization. The optimized formulation achieved a curcumin encapsulation efficiency of 90.16% with a loading capacity of 6.01%, while considerably improving its resistance to ultraviolet (UV) irradiation and thermal treatment and enabling sustained curcumin release. More importantly, PDRN imparted intrinsic biological function to the nanocomposite particles, and its combination with curcumin produced enhanced antioxidant and cytoprotective effects, including enhanced free radical scavenging, inhibition of oxidative erythrocyte hemolysis, favorable cytocompatibility, and enhanced fibroblast migration in vitro. This work demonstrates that biopolymers can function not only as structural stabilizers but also as bioactive components, providing a simple strategy for engineering multifunctional carriers for biomedical and cosmetic applications.
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DOI
高影响因子
Foods
·
2022
·Vol. 11
·期 18
·2827
·
IF 5.561
Cuicui Li,Long Chen,David Julian McClements,Xinwen Peng,Chao Qiu,Jie Long,Hangyan Ji,Jianwei Zhao,Xing Zhou,Zhengyu Jin
In this work, rutin (RT)–loaded zein–carboxymethyl starch (CMS) nanoparticles were successfully prepared by the antisolvent precipitation method. The effect of CMS on composite nanoparticles at different concentrations was studied. When the ratio of zein–RT–CMS was 10:1:30, the encapsulation efficiency (EE) was the highest, reaching 73.5%. At this ratio, the size of the composite nanoparticles was 196.47 nm, and the PDI was 0.13, showing excellent dispersibility. The results of fluorescence spectroscopy, FTIR, XRD, and CD showed that electrostatic interaction, hydrogen bonding, and hydrophobic interaction were the main driving forces for the formation of nanoparticles. It can be seen from the FE–SEM images that the zein–RT–CMS nanoparticles were spherical. With the increase in the CMS concentration, the particles gradually embedded in the cross–linked network of CMS (10:1:50). After RT was loaded on zein–CMS nanoparticles, the thermal stability and pH stability of RT were improved. The results showed that zein–CMS was an excellent encapsulation material for bioactive substances.Keywords:zein;carboxymethyl starch;rutin;nanoparticle;interaction;formation mechanism
研究领域:
纳米技术
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药学
·
材料科学
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DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
FOOD HYDROCOLLOIDS
·
2026
·
IF 13.8
Yanqiu Zhang,Mingchuan Yang,Lejia Shi,Biaohua Zhang,Ruixia Dong,Yao Zhang,Wenxi Li,Xiangchun Zhang,Dongxu Wang
EGCG nanoparticles (ENPs) enhance the antibacterial activity by disrupting biofilms and membrane structures. • Zein/ENP composite films show improved mechanical properties and water barrier performance. • The active Zein/ENP films successfully double the shelf life of strawberries and apples. • Biodegradable Zein/ENP films exhibit ideal environmental and biological safety. Tea polyphenols (−)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) oxidation self-assembled nanocomposites (ENP) were synthesized through a one-step self-assembly process without templating or seeding agents and incorporated into zein-based edible films for the purpose of fruit preservation. The ENP nanocomposites maintained the core structural characteristics of EGCG and demonstrated excellent antioxidant activity, and antibacterial properties against E. coli and S. aureus . As a coating, ENP significantly reduced strawberry decay, weight loss, and nutrient degradation during storage. When integrated into zein films, ENP improved structural density, mechanical properties, water vapor permeability, antioxidant capacity, and light transmittance, without affecting the crystallinity of the zein-based films. The zein-based ENP edible films effectively extended the shelf life of strawberries and fresh-cut apples, surpassing the performance of both pure zein and polyethylene films. Mechanistic investigations have demonstrated that ENP compromised bacterial biofilm and structure integrity, leads to the leakage of intracellular contents, and inhibited ATPase activity. Biological safety assessment showed that the ENP nanocomposites exhibited negligible toxicity to zebrafish and seed germination, and the zein-based ENP film has ideal degradation performance. Taken together, zein-based films incorporating ENP offer a sustainable, effective, and safe approach for packaging in fruit preservation. To provide a simple and eco-friendly packaging solution, this study integrated tea polyphenol oxidative self-assembled composites (ENP) into zein-based edible films. This integration enhanced the mechanical strength, moisture resistance, and light transmittance of the films without disrupting the crystallinity of the natural zein. The active zein/ENP films exhibited robust antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, significantly extending the shelf life of strawberries and fresh-cut apples. Download: Download high-res image (360KB) Download: Download full-size image
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高影响因子
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
·
2025
·
IF 8.5
Qingqing Liu,Yue Tang,Mingming Xiong,Yunting Yang,Yanting Liu,Zhengping Duan,Wei Luo,Yisha Xie,Yongjun Yuan
Lipase is widely used in the food industry, but its catalytic efficiency is limited by the insufficient enzyme-substrate contact. To address this issue, chitosan-zein complex particles immobilized lipase (CZPs-lipase) and the corresponding Pickering emulsion catalytic system (PEC) were fabricated. The results showed that the incorporation of zein increased the three-phase contact angle of the particles and decreased the particle size, facilitating lipase immobilization. However, the reduced ζ-potential of the particles was unfavorable for the lipase immobilization by electrostatic adsorption. As a compromise, the maximum immobilized lipase activity was obtained at a chitosan:zein mass ratio of 1:2 (CZPs 1:2 -lipase). In addition, the PEC stabilized by CZPs-lipase had a significantly ( P < 0.05) smaller particle size than that stabilized by chitosan-lipase particles. Consequently, after 120 min of reaction, the hydrolysis rate of p-nitrophenol palmitate in the PEC stabilized by CZPs 1:2 -lipase was 1.66 and 3.67 times that of the free lipase emulsion and the free lipase biphasic catalytic system, respectively. Meanwhile, after 180 min of reaction, the hydrolysis rate of corn oil and soybean oil in the PEC reached 75.68 ± 1.85 % and 96.27 ± 2.26 %, respectively, significantly ( P < 0.05) higher than that in the free lipase emulsion. After five cycles, the relative hydrolysis rate remained at approximately 85 %. This efficient and PEC has considerable potential for applications in the food industry.
研究领域:
食品科学
·
生物技术
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产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
Polymers
·
2025
·Vol. 17
·期 3
·387
·
IF 4.9
Rong Sun,Liangliang Li,Jiangjie Zhou,Yongfeng Zhang,Haiya Sun,Datong Zhang,Qi Wu
Zein exhibits excellent biodegradability, thermal stability, UV resistance, and water barrier properties, making it a promising candidate for food packaging applications. However, pure zein films suffer from brittleness and poor mechanical strength, which limit their practical use. In this study, a unique bilayer packaging film (ZP/P-C) was developed using a layer-by-layer solution casting technique, where hydrophobic zein was coated onto a polyvinyl alcohol and chitosan composite layer (P-C). Incorporating PEG400 into the zein layer improved the interfacial compatibility of the bilayer film, increasing its uniformity and toughness. The resulting bilayer films demonstrated enhanced mechanical properties, flexibility, and water vapor barrier performance. Specifically, the ZP7.5/P-C bilayer film showed an elongation at break of 68.74% and a modulus of elasticity of 187.19 MPa. It had a water vapor permeability of 6.60 × 10−11g·m·m−2·s−1·Pa−1and provided near-complete UV protection within the 200–350 nm range. Furthermore, an intelligent detection bilayer film was created by integrating anthocyanin extract into the zein layer. Adding anthocyanin improved the film’s antioxidant properties and allowed it to respond colorimetrically to total volatile basic nitrogen. The bilayer film ZPBA1.0/P-C displayed an excellent antioxidant activity (45.8%) and remarkable color change (ΔE = 20.2) in response to ammonia, effectively indicating shrimp spoilage in 48 h (ΔE > 10). This investigation spotlights the potential of zein-based bilayer films in active and intelligent food packaging, offering innovative strategies to improve food safety and extend the shelf life of perishable goods.
研究领域:
食品科学
·
材料科学
·
包装工程
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产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
危险品化学品经营许可证（带存储）