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Zein in controlled drug delivery and tissue engineering
Rishi Paliwal1, Srinath Palakurthi1
1Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Kingsville, TX, USA.
Summary
Zein, a corn-derived protein, shows promise as a safe and eco-friendly biomaterial for advanced drug delivery systems and tissue engineering applications due to its biocompatibility and biodegradability.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Polymer Chemistry
Background:
- Controlled bioactive delivery to specific biological targets is a key goal in drug carrier system development.
- Zein, a hydrophobic, biodegradable, and biocompatible protein from corn, offers a safe and cost-effective biomaterial option.
- Its Generally Regarded As Safe (GRAS) status facilitates its use in human applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the existing literature on zein as a biopolymer for drug, vaccine, and gene delivery.
- To explore the potential applications of zein in tissue engineering.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature review of scientific publications on zein.
- Analysis of studies focusing on zein's properties relevant to drug delivery and tissue engineering.
Main Results:
- Zein's characteristics (hydrophobicity, biodegradability, biocompatibility, GRAS status) make it suitable for various biomedical applications.
- Emerging research highlights zein's potential in controlled/targeted delivery of bioactives and in regenerative medicine.
Conclusions:
- Zein is a versatile biopolymer with significant potential for advanced pharmaceutical formulations and tissue engineering.
- Further research into zein-based systems can lead to innovative therapeutic and regenerative strategies.
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