Small
·
2025
·
IF 12.1
Minseo Jeong,Seokgyu Kwon,Changhwan Hyeon,Juhoon Baek,Myeongsu Seong,Minkyung Kim,Dasol Lee
Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is a promising material for radiative cooling owing to its high infrared emissivity and mechanical flexibility; however, its inherent hydrophilicity limits its practical applications, particularly in humid environments. In this study, a scalable and environmentally friendly approach is introduced to overcome this limitation by incorporating Zein—a hydrophobic protein derived from corn—into a PVA matrix in conjunction with aluminum oxide and silicon dioxide nanoparticles. The resulting composite nanofiber membrane, PZAS, exhibits significantly enhanced hydrophobicity, achieving an average water contact angle of 118.5° over 60 s, compared with ≈40° for pure PVA nanofibers. A high solar reflectance of 91.7% and strong infrared emissivity of 96.9% within the atmospheric transparency window are demonstrated. In outdoor measurements, a temperature reduction of up to 6.9 °C is achieved below ambient temperature. These findings underscore the potential of PZAS as a viable and sustainable radiative cooling material for applications in thermal regulation, particularly in textiles and wearable cooling technologies. The initial hydrophobicity followed by gradual water absorption of PZAS highlights its suitability for advanced biomedical applications, including moisture-managing textiles, sweat-based biosensors, and controlled drug delivery systems.
研究领域:
材料科学
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生物医学工程
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纳米技术
·
热调节
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柔性电子
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可穿戴设备
·
环境功能材料
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产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
FOOD RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL
·
2024
·
IF 7
Jiawen Li,Yuanhao Zheng,Peng Wang,Hui Zhang
In this study, electrospun zein/alginate dialdehyde (AD) nanofibers were prepared by green crosslinking. The degree of crosslinking could reach 50.72 %, and the diameter of electrospun fibers ranged from 446.2 to 541.8 nm. The generation of AD and the bonding of crosslinking were further confirmed by the changes on characteristic peaks and conformational ratios in the infrared spectroscopy and secondary structure analysis. High concentrations of AD led to improved thermal stabilities, mechanical properties, and hydrophobicity. And the highly crosslinked nanofibers (Z-8) owned the highest elastic modulus (24.92 MPa), tensile strength (0.28 MPa), and elongation at break (8.14 %) among five samples. Moreover, Z-8 possessed a high swelling ratio of 5.45 g/g, and a low weight loss of 6.09 %. The samples could encapsulate curcumin efficiently and show controllable release behaviors based on different AD addition. And the oxidation resistance of nanofibers gradually improved, consistent with the release performances. This study indicated AD crosslinking favored the preparation and application of zein nanofibers, and the oxidized polysaccharide acted as the green crosslinking agent, which provided reference value for the application of polysaccharides in food-related electrospun materials.
研究领域:
材料科学
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纳米技术
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药学
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食品科学
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产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
RSC Advances
·
2026
·Vol. 16
·期 9
·7717-7725
·
IF 6.1
Siyang Chen,Jinhui Jia,Jian Du,Ningbo Qin,Xiaodong Xia
Due to its capacity to form complexes with polyphenols and to self-assemble as nanoparticles, zein could be utilized as an excellent carrier for polyphenols. The objective of this study was to examine the interaction between zein and phloretin (PHL) through multispectral analysis and molecular docking, and to prepare and characterize PHL-loaded zein nanoparticles. Spectral analysis and docking data confirmed that the binding process of the zein-PHL complex is mainly influenced by hydrogen bonding and van der Waals forces, and hydrophobic interaction was auxiliary, with static quenching as the primary fluorescence quenching mechanism. Meanwhile, zein nanoparticles loaded with PHL were successfully prepared using the anti-solvent precipitation method, which was evidenced by the morphology and size characterization. The hydrogen bond and hydrophobic interaction in the nanoparticles were further confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. This study elucidates the noncovalent interaction mechanism between zein and PHL, providing a theoretical foundation for the design of zein-polyphenol nanocarriers. These carriers show promising applications as emulsion stabilizers or delivery systems for lipophilic bioactives, thereby facilitating the development of functional foods with improved stability and enhanced bioavailability.
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DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
FOOD CONTROL
·
2021
·
IF 5.548
Hongxia Tan,Hongyuan Zhou,Ting Guo,Yuhao Zhang,Liang Ma
Zearalenone (ZEN) is one of the most polluted mycotoxins in maize and maize-products. To date, however, previous studies have only focused on the presence of free ZEN. To confirm the occurrence of hidden ZEN in maize and maize-products, the samples were pretreated using different hydrolysis methods and in vitro digestion. In this study, significantly increased amount of total detectable ZEN was found by the hydrolysis with compound protease and especially in vitro digestion, which indicated the presence of hidden ZEN in maize. The hidden ZEN can be converted into its free form by in vitro digestion and then be found/detected out. Especially, zein-bound zearalenone was the main “hidden mode” for the presence of hidden ZEN. The amount of total detectable ZEN in digested zein was 7 times higher than that in undigested zein. And also, fluorescence quenching and ultrafiltration studies also showed that ZEN can bind with zein spontaneously by non-covalent bonds. Overall, this study aroused an important issue for risk assessment that the total amount of ZEN in maize products might be underestimated due to the presence of zein-bound ZEN.
研究领域:
食品安全
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毒理学
·
生物化学
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产品关联
DOI
高影响因子
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
·
2019
·
IF 4.784
Lingli Deng,Yang Li,Aiping Zhang,Hui Zhang
In this study, the gelatin/zein nanofibrous membranes with incorporation of nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA) were fabricated via electrospinning. The gelatin/zein/nHA solutions as the spinning dispersions showed the viscoelastic property with a shear-thinning non-Newtown behavior. The incorporated nHA particles in the composite nanofibrous membranes did not affect the average fiber diameter significantly, but induced agglomeration and nodules at higher contents. It was found that nHA was dispersed within the gelatin/zein nanofibers by the formed hydrogen bonding, resulting in a more extensional structure of the proteins. The addition of nHA significantly increased the hydrophobicity of the nanofibrous membranes, due to the lower ratio of polar groups exposed outside. However, the incorporation of nHA improved the mechanical property at a low content of 10%, but resulted in a more brittle and fragile property at higher contents. The copper adsorption capacity of the gelatin/zein nanofibrous membrane increased from 27.2 to 67.8 mg/g after the addition of up to 50% nHA. This work suggests the potentials of the electrospun gelatin/zein/nHA nanofibrous membranes as desirable materials for metal removal applications.
研究领域:
材料科学
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环境科学
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产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
FOOD CHEMISTRY
·
2022
·
IF 9.231
Ying Wan,Jian Li,Jitong Ma,Yanan Li,Ren Wang,Zhengxing Chen,Tao Wang
In this study, co-assembled protein-polysaccharide complexes (ZCs) were prepared by fixing zein nanoparticles at the fibrillar carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) by pH-driven anti-solvent precipitation. The complexation boosted the dispersity of zein from 17.3% to 88.6%. Scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy confirmed the formation of network structures where the fibrous polysaccharides inserted into the interval of granular proteins. Circular dichroism spectrum, fluorescence spectrum, and X-ray diffraction verified the electrostatic interaction pattern between zein and CMC. Besides, the ZCs presented favorable amphiphilic properties, and the electrostatic interaction between zein and CMC can be fine-tuned by the substitution degree (DS) of carboxymethyl in CMC. Therefore, the Pickering emulsions stabilized by ZCs had controllable size and long-term stability using DS as a stimulus. Our study offers a novel strategy developing bio-based materials as novel stabilizers of Pickering emulsions.
研究领域:
食品科学
·
材料科学
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产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
PROGRESS IN ORGANIC COATINGS
·
2023
·
IF 6.6
Qiuhua Xie,Zhihua Zhang,Na Li,Li Cui,Ping Wang,Yuanyuan Yu,Qiang Wang
In this study, transglutaminase-mediated alkylation modification of zein with octadecylamine (OA) was carried out to enhance the hydrophobicity of zein and the potential application of modified zein in the functionalization of textiles was evaluated. The reaction between OA and zein was demonstrated from the results of sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and 1 H nuclear magnetic resonance ( 1 H MIR). The hydrophobicity of zein significantly increased and the secondary structure of zein slightly changed after alkylation modification. The alkylated zein imparted excellent hydrophobic function to cotton textiles with a water contact angle (WCA) value of 131.7° and the hydrophobicity was long-lasting. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) showed a coarse surface formed on cotton fabric due to the participation of OA. The hydrophobic functionalization of the cotton fabric with alkylated zein did not cause negative impact on the mechanical properties and air permeability of the fabric.
研究领域:
材料科学
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纺织工程
·
化学
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产品关联
DOI
高影响因子
FOOD RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL
·
2025
·
IF 8
Xing Zhang,Yucheng Xiang,Yifan Chen,Jiangbo Xi,Shaohua Huang
Stereoisomerism, referring to the existence of molecules as chiral forms with distinct three-dimensional configurations, plays a crucial role in determining how bioactive compounds interact with food proteins. This study investigated the effects of dihydromyricetin (DMY) stereochemistry, including ( 2R, 3R )-, ( 2S, 3S )-, and racemic (rac)- forms, on its binding with zein and the subsequent release during simulated digestion. Zein-DMY complexes were prepared and analysed using fluorescence spectroscopy, molecular dynamics simulation, and an in vitro gastrointestinal model. Results showed that all zein-DMY complexes exhibited smaller particle size and higher zeta potential than original zein ( p < 0.05). Fluorescence quenching analysis suggested that zein-( 2R, 3R )-DMY complex had higher quenching constants (3.2 × 10 4 L·mol −1 ) and binding constants (3.2 × 10 4 L·mol −1 ) than the zein-( 2S, 3S ) and zein-(rac)-DMY complexes. Molecular dynamics simulations further confirmed this preferential binding, showing a lower average root-mean-square deviation (RMSD, 0.26 nm) and a more negative binding energy (−38.2 kcal/mol) of zein-( 2R, 3R )-DMY interaction compared to zein-( 2S, 3S )-DMY interaction. In vitro digestion results revealed that zein-( 2R, 3R )-DMY complex had the lowest cumulative release of DMY in the intestinal phase. The digestive products of the zein-DMY complexes, particularly zein-( 2R, 3R )-DMY, exhibited significantly enhanced antioxidant potency compared to pure DMY ( p < 0.05). In conclusion, the chiral configuration of DMY is the main factor determining its interaction with zein and its digestive release behaviour, providing valuable insights for designing stable, protein-based delivery systems in functional food applications.
研究领域:
食品科学
·
生物化学
·
分子营养学
·
药物递送系统
·
功能食品
✓ 已验证
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
·
2025
·
IF 8.5
Yanming Feng,Sanmei Long,Mengyao Liu,Qi Zheng,Young-Rok Kim,Ke Luo
Spray drying is a conventional drying method for producing resistant starch particles (RSP) powder, but it may negatively affect crystallinity and anti-digestibility. To overcome this limitation, we propose a zein-coating strategy to improve the anti-digestive properties of spray-dried RSP powder. We found that zein densely adsorbed on the surface of RSP through spray drying, resulting in the formation a shell structure. The water contact angle of zein-coated RSP (Zein@RSP) was increased from 20° to 75°, rendering the semi-hydrophobic surface properties. The results of CD and XPS analysis demonstrated that the adsorption of zein on the surface of RSP is based on the hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions between zein and RSP, enhancing their intermolecular interactions and structural compactness. In vitro digestion experiments demonstrated that Zein@RSP exhibited significantly improved resistance to enzymatic hydrolysis, showing that the resistant starch content increased up to 82.92 % and digestibility decreased to 29.06 % through zein coating. Furthermore, enzyme activity assays indicated that zein effectively inhibited α-amylase and amyloglucosidase via non-competitive inhibition, with a maximum relative inhibition rate of 50 % and 47 %, respectively. Thus, this spray-drying-based zein coating approach to improving the anti-digestive properties of RSP, offers potential applications in functional foods and low-glycemic-index products.
研究领域:
食品科学与技术
·
功能食品
·
碳水化合物化学
·
营养学
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产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
·
2022
·
IF 8.025
Zhe Li,Xiaoxia Jiang,Hao Huang,Ao Liu,Hongning Liu,Naeem Abid,Liangshan Ming
The purpose of this study was to prepare chitosan/zein (CS/Zein) edible films reinforced with Mosla chinensis essential oils (EOs) nanoemulsions (NEs) and nanoparticles (NPs) in order to compare their properties. NEs and NPs containing EOs could be used to fabricate films with functional properties, and the films were prepared using a casting method. The influence of EO concentration and mixing methods on the physical, mechanical, and functional properties of the films was investigated. The results indicated that the films formulated with EO NEs generated favorable fundamental and functional characteristics with excellent mechanical properties, moisture barrier capacity, and significant antioxidant and antibacterial activity . In addition, the use of NEs-based films improved the release of bioactive compounds, and the mechanism of EO release was found to follow a first order model. In summary, EO NEs were more effective in preserving the fundamental and functional properties of CS/Zein nanocomposite edible films than NP-based films. These differences may reflect different forms and methods of dispersing EOs in NEs and NPs. This study demonstrated that NEs reinforced films could be used to enhance the effectiveness of EOs in food products and develop new strategies for their delivery and application.
研究领域:
食品科学
·
材料科学
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DOI
高影响因子
FOOD CONTROL
·
2026
·
IF 6.3
Yuanyuan Huang,Yuanhang Huang,Wenhui Li,Tianying Lu
Zearalenone (ZEN) is an estrogenic mycotoxin that widely contaminates cereals and their products, developing efficient and targeted ZEN removal technologies in food matrices is of significant importance. In this study, a self-supporting three-dimensional Zein nanofibrous membrane was successfully prepared via electrospinning, and its adsorption performance and mechanism for ZEN were systematically evaluated. The results indicated that the material exhibits excellent adsorption performance and remarkable selectivity for ZEN. Under optimized conditions, the maximum equilibrium adsorption capacity for ZEN reached 0.48 mg/g Competitive adsorption experiments in a coexisting system containing ZEN, aflatoxin B 1 and patulin further confirmed its high selectivity for targeted detoxifying ZEN. Further continuous-flow experiments were designed to evaluate the ZEN removal performance of Zein nanofibrous membranes in a real beer matrix. The membranes maintained a detoxification rate of 90.48% for ZEN without significantly affecting the key quality parameters of the beer, demonstrating its promising application potential in complex food matrices. This study provides theoretical and technical support for the targeted detoxification of ZEN from food using Zein, and opens new avenues for the application of fully bio-based membranes in food contamination control.
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产品关联
DOI
高影响因子
CHEMBIOCHEM
·
2026
·Vol. 27
·期 1
·e202500945
·
IF 2.8
Min Huang,Jiayi Han,Hao Li,Junhao Lin,Qingbo Jiao,Zexing Cao,Qunfang Lei,Wenjun Fang,Gerui Ren,Zhijun Song,Ying Zheng,Ruibo Wu,Hujun Xie
Growing interest in sustainable nutrition has improved the importance of understanding the interactions between (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a polyphenol in green tea, and proteins for functional food development. In this study, we investigated the regulatory effects of EGCG on the aggregation behavior of zein, ovalbumin, and their complexes. The addition of EGCG at 100 μg mL −1 led to significant changes in particle sizes of zein, ovalbumin, and zein-ovalbumin complexes, increasing them from 215.6, 3485.3, and 2081.0 nm to 4822.3, 7857.0, and 5895.7 nm, respectively. The zeta potentials of these samples decreased from 8.4, −2.6, and 5.0 mV to −5.3, −0.66, and 2.13 mV, respectively, indicating a reduction in net surface charges and promotion of protein aggregation. UV–vis absorption spectroscopy revealed hyperchromic effects and blue shifts upon EGCG addition, suggesting conformational changes. Molecular dynamics simulations further revealed that EGCG contributed to the structural stabilization of both individual proteins and their complexes by reinforcing hydrophobic and electrostatic contacts at the molecular interface. These findings provide molecular-level insights into the regulatory role of EGCG in protein assembly and offer guidance for the rational design of plant-animal protein complexes with tailored functional properties for food applications. Graphical EGCG plays a significant regulatory role in protein aggregation behavior. EGCG interacts with protein molecules, promoting conformational changes and aggregation, particularly in systems involving zein and ovalbumin. This study highlights the potential application of EGCG in the development of functional foods.
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DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
危险品化学品经营许可证（带存储）