Abstract
Zein, a protein extracted from maize, can be employed to easily produce nanoscale particles suitable for use as carrier systems. This review investigates the main methods for obtaining zein nanoparticles, as well as the problems and options available in the development of stable colloidal suspensions. Considerable gaps were identified in the literature concerning this topic, with studies being unclear about the factors that affect the stability of zein particles. In the vast majority of cases, no data are presented in relation to the stability of the formulations over time. It could be concluded that in order to produce a high quality system, detailed evaluation is required, considering factors including the zein concentration, pH, ionic strength, thermal treatment of the protein prior to preparation of the nanoparticles, strategies employing other materials as coatings, and the storage conditions. It is extremely important that these aspects should be considered during product development, prior to commercial-scale manufacture.
Highlights
Zein is the main protein present in maize, accounting for around 50% of the total protein content
Cabra et al (2006) reported irreversible changes in the alpha-helix structures of zein proteins after treatment at 90◦C. These results suggest that a short heat treatment (15 min) partially unravels the tertiary structures of zein molecules, resulting in a monodisperse formulation with smaller nanoparticle size
This article presents and describes the methods used to produce zein nanoparticles, as well as the main issues concerning the colloidal stability of these particles and ways to improve their stability
Summary
Zein is the main protein present in maize, accounting for around 50% of the total protein content. It belongs to the prolamin class and is composed of lipophilic amino acid residues. The α-zein form accounts for over 70% of the total zein protein and is the type that is commercially available (Paliwal and Palakurthi, 2014). It is not used for direct human consumption, due to its negative nitrogen balance and low solubility in water. It can be converted to spherical colloidal nanoparticles (Patel et al, 2010). Due to its high coating capacity, biodegradability, and biocompatibility, zein has been used in modified release systems for the delivery of enzymes, drugs, and essential oils, among other substances (Lee et al, 2013; da Rosa et al, 2015; Park et al, 2015; Wang et al, 2017)
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