Curcumin-loaded Zein Nanoparticles Research Articles

Mussel-inspired highly adhesive carrageenan-based coatings with self-activating enhanced activity for meat preservation

In order to solve the problem of poor adhesion of polysaccharide coatings in meat storage and inconvenient secondary spraying, which leads to poor preservation effect, this study was inspired by the property of mussels to adhere firmly to surfaces and design a bioactive composite coating. Here, curcumin-loaded zein nanoparticles (CZ NPs) were successfully prepared and incorporated into carrageenan-based biocomposite coatings for chilled meat preservation. The prepared curcumin-zein-riboflavin-carrageenan (CZRC) coating featured smooth spherical morphology and the solubility of hydrophobic substances, the adhesion and stability of the composite coating were respectively improved to 3.8 and 6 times compared to CZ NPs. The CZRC coating also shows desirable antioxidant activity (89.78 ± 4.8 % on DPPH and 91.40 ± 2.1 % on ABTS+) and the treatment based on CZRC coating under light irradiation reduced Pseudomonas fragi (by 2.02 log CFU/mL) and Brochothrix thermosphacta (by 4.35 log CFU/mL), which prolonged the shelf life of lamb and pork to 1.8 and 2.3 times at 4 °C storage condition. This work provides a viable strategy for the development of highly adhesive coatings with self-activation enhanced activity to achieve long-lasting preservation.

In vitro digestion and intestinal absorption of curcumin-loaded zein nanoparticles

Colloidal delivery systems improve the oral bioavailability of lipid-soluble bioactives, providing protection throughout the gastrointestinal tract. In this study, the fate of a model bioactive, curcumin, was followed during in vitro digestion and absorption, using state of the art INFOGEST in vitro models. Curcumin was loaded in zein nanoparticles, prepared by antisolvent precipitation, with or without sodium caseinate (Cur-Z-C and Cur-Z, respectively). The bioefficacy of the digesta were evaluated using Caco-2 cells. In addition, the absorption of curcumin was evaluated using a co-culture of Caco-2/HT29-MTX cells, which are mucus producing. Ultra-high-performance quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry and cellular bioassays were utilized to assess the presence of bioaccessible material, and any residual curcumin after absorption. Zein nanoparticles were fully digested during gastrointestinal transit. A comparison between aqueous curcumin and digested Cur-Z and Cur-Z-C showed that Cur-Z-C decreased the proliferation of Caco-2 cells by ∼55%. This finding points out the importance of matrix effect on the efficacy of delivery systems.

Calcium ions induced ι-carrageenan-based gel-coating deposited on zein nanoparticles for encapsulating the curcumin

Zein, curcumin (Cur), and ι-carrageenan (ιCar) were used to prepare core–shell biopolymer nanoparticles (Zein-Cur-ιCar). These nanoparticles consisted of a nutraceutical-loaded protein core (curcumin-loaded zein nanoparticles) and a gelled polysaccharide shell (calcium cross-linked ι-carrageenan). The size, charge, morphology, and interactions of the nanoparticles were characterized by dynamic light scattering, zeta-potential analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier Transform infrared analysis. Ionic bridging, electrostatic attraction, hydrogen bonding, and hydrophobic attraction were involved in particle formation. The high encapsulation efficiency (93.2%) and loading capacity (6.2%) indicated that curcumin was well encapsulated within nanoparticles with optimized compositions (zein:ι-carrageenan 100:40). These particles had relatively small diameters (351.8 nm) and effectively delayed the light and thermal degradation of curcumin. Moreover, the curcumin within the nanoparticles was released in a sustained manner under simulated gastrointestinal conditions, which may improve its oral bioavailability. In summary, calcium carrageenan-coated zein nanoparticles have potential for the encapsulation, protection, and controlled release of hydrophobic nutrients.

A nozzle simulation chip toward high-throughput formation of curcumin-loaded zein nanoparticles with tunable properties.

Size of nanoparticle (NP) is a crucial factor in determining its applicability to various fields. This study aimed to develop a nozzle chip for the scalable formation of self-assembled curcumin-loaded zein NPs with tunable properties. A four-factor (zein concentration in dispersed phase, ethanol concentration in continuous phase, flow rate ratio, and total flow rate), three-level Box-Behnken design on the measured responses (particle size and polydispersity index [PDI]) was established. The particle size and PDI, ranging from 194.43 to 420.51nm, and 0.089 to 0.219, respectively, were readily controlled by adjusting four factors. Under the optimal conditions of 6% zein, 0% EtOH, the flow rate ratio of 7, and a total flow rate of 8mL/min targeting higher production rate, the particle size of 306.02±1.52nm (mean±standard deviation) and the PDI of 0.135±0.001 were obtained. High throughput for zein NP production (86.4g/day) was reached, which was 200 and 960 times higher than using microfluidic and electrospraying techniques, respectively. Curcumin-loaded zein NPs under the abovementioned experimental conditions were successfully prepared via the nozzle chip with the encapsulation efficiency of 64.29%±0.29%, a loading capacity of 3.06%±0.01%, enhanced stability, and improved in vitro antioxidant properties. Curcumin was primarily released from zein NPs in the simulated intestinal phase. This study demonstrated that the property of self-assembled zein NPs can be tuned by altering the operating parameters using the nozzle simulation chip. The results suggest that this approach has potential for use in the food and pharmaceutical industries, particularly for curcumin encapsulation. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The fabricated nozzle chip is a promising technology to obtain zein nanoparticles (NPs) with enhanced productivity and narrow particle size distribution. It can be easily adopted to spray drying process. Besides, the nozzle chip shows the potential for the large-scale production of bioactive loaded zein NPs in the food or pharmaceutical industries.

Development of coating material by incorporating curcumin-loaded zein nanoparticles to maintain the quality of mango (Mangifera indica L. cv. Nam Dokmai)

Anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides is a major postharvest disease that reduces the shelf life of mango ( Mangifera indica L. cv. Nam Dokmai), an indigenous crop of Thailand. Curcumin, a substance in turmeric, has antimicrobial activity, which is hypothesized to be enhanced in the form of nanoparticles. In this research, curcumin-loaded zein nanoparticles (CZNP) were synthesized using a liquid-liquid dispersion method and were incorporated into zein coating material. The effect against C. gloeosporioides was evaluated relative to curcumin and zein mixture solution (CZ) as a control. The results showed that the solution of free curcumin at 100 μg/ml (CZ100) was less effective compared to when curcumin was entrapped in zein nanoparticles at the same amount (CZNP100), which was more effective at inhibiting the mycelial growth of C. gloeosporioides . It was consistent with the study of disease severity when the curcumin in both forms was mixed in zein coating materials and applied to mangoes. The disease severities of inoculated mangoes treated with CZNP and CZ were significantly retarded (25.93% and 39.79%) compared to the uncoated mangoes (64.13%) after 9 days of storage. Subsequently, their effect also prolonged the postharvest quality of mangoes after 9-day storage in terms of delayed color change and loss of weight and firmness. These results indicated that functionalized curcumin-loaded zein nanoparticles added in a biodegradable zein coating significantly suppressed anthracnose disease severity in mango fruit, providing a promising strategy for disease control in mango fruit. • Zein nanoparticles enhanced the effectiveness of entrapped curcumin. • Zein coating added curcumin nanoforms inhibited C. gloeosporioides mycelia growth. • Zein coating resulted in alleviating the anthracnose disease in mangoes. • Curcumin nanoforms added in the coating prolonged mangoes from deterioration. • Both curcumin forms delayed color change, loss of weight and firmness of mangoes.

Development of curcumin-loaded zein nanoparticles for transport across the blood-brain barrier and inhibition of glioblastoma cell growth.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a devastating primary brain tumor resistant to conventional therapies. A major obstacle to GBM treatment is the blood-brain barrier (BBB), or blood-glioma barrier, which prevents the transport of systemically administered (chemotherapeutic) drugs into the tumor. This study reports the design of dodecamer peptide (G23)-functionalized polydopamine (pD)-coated curcumin-loaded zein nanoparticles (CUR-ZpD-G23 NPs) that efficiently traversed the BBB, and delivered curcumin to glioblastoma cells. The NPs enhanced the cellular uptake of curcumin by C6 glioma cells compared to free curcumin, and showed high penetration into 3D tumor spheroids. Functionalization of the NPs with G23 stimulated BBB crossing and tumor spheroid penetration. Moreover, the NPs markedly inhibited proliferation and migration and induced cell death in liquid and soft agar models of C6 glioma cell growth. Fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry studies showed that the CUR-ZpD-G23 NPs increased cellular ROS production and induced apoptosis of C6 glioma cells. Following in vivo intravenous injection in zebrafish, ZpD-G23 NPs demonstrated the ability to circulate, which is a first prerequisite for their use in targeted drug delivery. In conclusion, zein-polydopamine-G23 NPs show potential as a drug delivery platform for therapy of GBM, which requires further validation in in vivo glioblastoma models.

Reinforcement of hydrogel scaffold using oxidized-guar gum incorporated with curcumin-loaded zein nanoparticles to improve biological performance

Newly, the use of biocompatible injectable hydrogel with appropriate features for application in the tissue engineering area as a perfect wound dressing has been more attracted. For this purpose, the curcumin loaded Zein nanoparticles/aldehyde-modified guar gum/silk fibroin (Cur-NPs/OGG/SF) hydrogel networks were successfully developed to increase the Cur bioavailability during the wound treatment procedure. Fabricated hydrogels were assessed for their morphological, thermal stability, degradation, and mechanical features. By varying the OGG/SF weight ratios, the physicochemical features of hydrogels without or with Cur-loaded Zein NPs were studied. The results showed that with enhancing the OGG content, the degradation behavior of hydrogels were improved. Besides, Cur-NPs/OGG/SF hydrogels increased the cell proliferation without any cytotoxic effect on mouse embryonic fibroblast (NIH-3T3) cells. The Cur-NPs/OGG/SF hydrogel exposed inhibition activity against Bacillus (15.26 ± 1.09 mm) and E. coli (11.54± 1.36 mm) bacteria. These achieved results recommended that the novel developed hydrogel could be suitable for wound healing application.

Fabrication of curcumin-loaded zein nanoparticles stabilized by sodium caseinate/sodium alginate: Curcumin solubility, thermal properties, rheology, and stability

Curcumin is a polyphenol with multiple biological activities, but its extremely poor water solubility severely limits its application in the food industry. The purposes of this work were to study the effect of nano-encapsulation on the water solubility of curcumin (C), the interaction of curcumin with zein (Z), the thermal properties, rheological properties, and the stability under different environmental pressures of the nanoparticles. The results of particle size, zeta potential, and surface hydrophobicity (H0) indicated that the combination of coating materials including sodium caseinate (SC) and sodium alginate (SA) with zein nanoparticles by electrostatic interaction led to a gradual increase in the particle size of composite nanoparticles and a decrease in surface hydrophobicity. The nano-encapsulation significantly improved the water solubility of curcumin and causing its crystal structure to change to an amorphous state. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed that curcumin bound to zein through hydrogen bonding. Rheological test results showed that the coating materials combined with zein led to an increase in the apparent viscosity of the nanoparticles. The stability analysis results indicated that the composite nanoparticles with a sodium alginate coating have excellent stability of pH, salt solution and storage, and excellent anti-gastrointestinal fluids digestion characteristics when compared to pure protein nanoparticles.

A novel pectin from Akebia trifoliata var. australis fruit peel and its use as a wall-material to coat curcumin-loaded zein nanoparticle

In this study, a pectin was extracted from Akebia trifoliata var. australis fruit peel waste using water solution, and its physicochemical properties were evaluated. The pectin was rich in galacturonic acid (GalA) content (76.68%). The degree of esterification (DE) and molecular weight (Mw) were 37.60% and 29,890 Da, respectively. The pectin structure was determined using Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) and Hydrogen nuclear magnetic resonance (H-NMR). The pectin exhibited an amorphous nature, negative charge, and good solubility. The pectin was then used as a wall-material to coat curcumin-loaded zein nanoparticles for the first time. The obtained nanoparticles (curcumin-loaded core-shell nanoparticle, CLCSNs) exhibited a core (zein)-shell (pectin) structure and a spherical shape with an average diameter of 230 nm. The electrostatic attraction, hydrogen bonding, and intermolecular interaction were involved in the CLCSNs formation. A high encapsulation efficiency (EE, 89.65%) and loading capacity (LC, 10.35%) of the CLCSNs were obtained for the curcumin. The solubility, stability, antioxidant activity, and in vitro bioavailability of the curcumin were significantly increased after loading into the CLCSNs. Therefore, this sustainable pectin from Akebia trifoliata var. australis fruit peel waste represents a promising natural macromolecule for use in the pharmaceutical and food industries.

Self-assembled composite nanoparticles based on zein as delivery vehicles of curcumin: role of chondroitin sulfate.

Composite nanoparticles composed of zein and chondroitin sulfate (CS) were self-assembled by the method of antisolvent precipitation to deliver curcumin (ZCCNPs). The structure of ZCCNPs changed from spheres to microaggregates with the increase of CS, involving hydrogen bonding and electrostatic and hydrophobic effects. The resistance of ZCCNPs to degeneration was improved by CS. The encapsulation efficiency of curcumin was enhanced by CS and showed the maximum (91.97%) when the mass ratio of zein-to-CS was 1 : 1 (ZCCNPs1:1). The crystallinity of curcumin changed to amorphous in ZCCNPs1:1. ZCCNPs1:1 exhibited great stability at pH 3.0-8.0, and it showed excellent thermostability at 35, 55, and 80 °C respectively for 120 min when the pH was 4.0 or 6.0. Meanwhile, it showed great storage stability at 4 and 22 °C respectively for 30 days. The retention rate of curcumin in ZCCNPs1:1 was higher than 65% within 8 days. The presence of CS improved the antiproliferative activity of curcumin-loaded zein nanoparticles (Cur-ZNPs) to HCT116 cells. ZCCNPs1:1 exhibited higher bioaccessibility (42.36%) than Cur-ZNPs. In addition, ZCCNPs1:1 exhibited excellent biocompatibility evaluated using in vitro cytotoxicity assay on NCM460 cells. The studies indicate that the delivery system fabricated in our work would be efficient for improving the application of hydrophobic nutrients in functional foods.

Encapsulation of curcumin in zein/ caseinate/sodium alginate nanoparticles with improved physicochemical and controlled release properties

Curcumin-loaded zein nanoparticles that have a stabilized dual coating shell structure in combination with sodium caseinate (SC) and sodium alginate (SA) were fabricated and characterized. The mass ratio of each component, including the zein final concentration, the mass ratio of zein to SC, and the mass ratio of SC to SA influence the physicochemical properties of the nanoparticles. The fluorescence spectrum confirmed that curcumin was encapsulated in the composite nanoparticles with an increase in the mass ratio of curcumin to zein, and the encapsulation efficiency of curcumin decreased. When coated with SA, there was a significantly improved encapsulation efficiency. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and surface hydrophobicity measurements indicated that hydrophilic SC and SA adsorbed on the surface of curcumin-loaded zein nanoparticles via electrostatic interactions to improve their water solubility. Encapsulation of curcumin in the composite nanoparticles not only significantly improved the photochemical stability and made it more effective in scavenging the 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical (DPPH●) compared with vitamin C but also provided controlled release under simulated gastrointestinal conditions. Therefore, SC-SA-stabilized zein nanoparticles are effective for improving the water solubility, photochemical stability and antioxidant activity of curcumin, and the prepared composite nanoparticles are expected to be used as a delivery carrier for chemically unstable hydrophobic active compounds in food and pharmaceutical industries.

Tailoring zein nanoparticle functionality using biopolymer coatings: Impact on curcumin bioaccessibility and antioxidant capacity under simulated gastrointestinal conditions

Protein nanoparticles can be used to encapsulate, protect, and deliver hydrophobic bioactive agents however, they are often unstable to environmental stresses. In this study, the impact of electrostatic deposition of a biopolymer coating (alginate/gelatin) on the physicochemical and functional properties of curcumin-loaded zein nanoparticles was determined. The pH stability of the zein nanoparticles was greatly improved by the biopolymer coatings, with a 7:3 w/w alginate-to-gelatin ratio being the most effective at inhibiting particle aggregation from pH 3 to 7. The optimized biopolymer-coated nanoparticles remained stable to aggregation during long-term storage, and were resistant to heat treatment at 80 °C for up to 40 min in 10% aqueous sucrose solutions (pH 4.5). The in vitro bioaccessibility of curcumin was appreciably higher (22.4%) when it was encapsulated within biopolymer-coated zein nanoparticles than when it was not encapsulated (<8%). This effect was mainly attributed to the ability of the nanoparticles to inhibit curcumin degradation and increase curcumin solubility within the simulated gastrointestinal tract (GIT). The in vitro antioxidant capacity of curcumin after exposure to the simulated GIT was also greatly improved by encapsulation within the nanoparticles, as demonstrated by much stronger ABTS+· radical scavenging and ferric ion reducing power. These results suggest that biopolymer-coated zein nanoparticles may be an effective oral delivery system for curcumin that could be used in functional foods or beverages.

Enzymatically crosslinked gelatin coating added of bioactive nanoparticles and antifungal agent: Effect on the quality of Benitaka grapes

Edible coatings have been studied as an alternative to incorporate bioactive substances on foodstuff surface. In this work, gelatin hydrogels were obtained by enzymatic crosslinking using transglutaminase (TGase) and added with curcumin-loaded zein nanoparticles or calcium propionate. The coatings were applied to Benitaka grapes and analyzed during 7 days of storage at 25 °C and 50% relative humidity. First, curcumin-loaded nanoparticles where characterized presenting spherical morphology with large size distribution and average diameter of 585 nm. Curcumin encapsulation was confirmed by FTIR and DSC results. Rheology analyses showed that TGase action increased the pseudoplastic behavior of the gelatin hydrogels with increasing temperatures which was confirmed by fitting the experimental curves to the Power Law model. When applied to Benitaka grapes the edible coatings did not contribute to an increase in microorganisms growth after 7 days of storage and did not altered titratable acidity. A better control of fruit ripening was obtained with the hydrogel added of calcium propionate. Overall results of texture profile analysis demonstrated that the presence of the edible coating did not affect the texture properties of the grape and color intensity of the grapes increased when curcumin-loaded nanoparticles were applied to the coating.

A novel antifungal surface-coating application to limit postharvest decay on coated apples: Molecular, thermal and morphological properties of electrospun zein–nanofiber mats loaded with curcumin

Abstract Coating surfaces of fruit with electrospun zein mats with functionalized antimicrobial properties can be a novel strategy to prevent fungal colonization on fruit surfaces. In this study, we tested curcumin-loaded electrospun zein nanofibers (CLZN) in terms of limitation of postharvest decay on CLZN–coated apples infected with Botrytis cinerea and Penicillium expansum. Mixtures of zein and curcumin (the curcumin amounts of 2.5 and 5 wt% based on the weight of zein powder) were electrospun to yield cylindrical and ultrafine ( Industrial relevance We coated the surfaces of fruits with electrospun mats with functionalized antimicrobial properties to prevent fungal colonization on fruit surface. The coating of apples with curcumin-loaded zein nanoparticles (CLZNs) limited the postharvest decay caused by the fungal pathogens, Penicillium expansum and Botrytis cinerea. This study showed that by encapsulation of curcumin into zein-based nanofibers considerably increased the antifungal effectiveness of curcumin. Our results highlighted the potential use of the CLZN as an effective fungicidal coating material against P. expansum and B. cinerea and suggested that CLZNs can be promising tools to compete with synthetic fungicide counterparts of curcumin. The results of this study should be of great importance to industrial applications in terms of development of natural, but effective preservatives as alternative to synthetic ones.