Surface-Tailored Zein Nanoparticles: Strategies and Applications

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Pharmaceutical Technology
• Protein Chemistry

Background:

• Plant-derived proteins are increasingly utilized in drug and food delivery systems.
• Zein, a protein from maize, is recognized for its biocompatibility and safety in biomedical applications.
• Zein's capacity to encapsulate active pharmaceutical substances (PAS) makes it suitable for diverse in vitro and in vivo uses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current research on zein formulation technology, emphasizing its structural characteristics.
• To explore the broad applications of zein, including drug delivery, cellular imaging, and tissue engineering.
• To highlight zein-based active targeted delivery systems and assess its antigenic response for in vivo use.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies on zein formulation and applications.
• Analysis of zein's structural features relevant to drug encapsulation and delivery.
• Discussion of surface modification and coating strategies for zein-based systems.

Main Results:

• Zein's unique structure facilitates the development of advanced drug delivery systems.
• Surface modifications and coatings enhance zein's utility in targeted and site-specific drug delivery.
• Zein demonstrates potential in cellular imaging and tissue engineering, alongside drug delivery.

Conclusions:

• Zein is a versatile biopolymer with significant potential in pharmaceutical and biomedical fields.
• Zein-based formulations offer promising avenues for active targeted drug delivery.
• Further investigation into zein's in vivo behavior, including antigenic response, is warranted for clinical translation.