Interactions of zein and zein/rosin nanoparticles with natural polyanion gum arabic

Modulating in vitro gastrointestinal digestion of nanocellulose-stabilized pickering emulsions by altering particle surface charge

An in vitro model of human gastrointestinal digestion was introduced to investigate the effects of surface charge of cellulose nanoparticles on emulsion structure during gastric phase, lipase activity, bile salt diffusion, and free fatty acid (FFA) release. Four carboxymethylated cellulose nanofibrils (CNF; C0, C0.36, C0.72, and C1.24) were used, showing different surface charge (p < 0.05). First, four carboxymethylated CNFs had no inhibition effects on lipase activity and bile salt diffusion. Moreover, we found that the lipid emulsion containing CNF formed gel structure to induce oil droplets aggregation during simulated gastric phase. Additionally, the particle surface charge greatly influenced the gel structure of emulsion where a denser gel structure was observed in the C0 (lowest surface charged CNF) stabilized emulsion. Finally, the released FFA results showed that the formed gel structure lowered the lipid emulsion digestion attributed to the restricted adherent area of oil droplets for lipase and bile salt.

Pickering Emulsions and Hydrophobized Films of Amphiphilic Cellulose Nanofibers Synthesized in Deep Eutectic Solvent

Herein, a dual-functioning deep eutectic solvent system based on triethylmethylammonium chloride and imidazole was harnessed as a swelling agent and a reaction medium for the esterification of cellulose with n-octyl succinic anhydride (OSA). The modified or amphiphilic cellulose nanofibers (ACNFs), synthesized using three different OSA-to-anhydroglucose unit molar ratios (0.5:1, ACNF-1; 1:1, ACNF-2; and 1.5:1, ACNF-3), were further converted into nanofibers with degree of substitution (DS) values of 0.24-0.66. The ACNFs possessed a lateral dimension of 4.24-9.22 nm and displayed surface activity due to the balance of hydrophobic and hydrophilic characteristics. The ACNFs made stable aqueous dispersions; however, the instability index of ACNF-3 (0.51) was higher than those of ACNF-1 (0.29) and ACNF-2 (0.33), which was attributed to the high DS-induced hydrophobicity, causing the instability in water. The amphiphilic nature of ACNFs promoted their performance as stabilizers in oil-in-water Pickering emulsions with average droplet sizes of 4.85 μm (ACNF-1) and 5.48 μm (ACNF-2). Self-standing films of ACNFs showed high contact angles for all the tested DS variants (97.48-114.12°), while their tensile strength was inversely related to DS values (ACNF-1: 115 MPa and ACNF-3: 49.5 MPa). Aqueous dispersions of ACNFs were also tested for coating fruits to increase their shelf life. Coatings improved their shelf life by decreasing oxygen contact and moisture loss.

Smart Protein-Based Fluorescent Nanoparticles Prepared by a Continuous Nanoprecipitation Method for Pesticides' Precise Delivery and Tracing

It is highly desirable to develop smart and green pesticide nanoformulations for improving pesticide targeting and reducing their inherent toxicity. Herein, we demonstrate a continuous nanoprecipitation method to construct a novel type of enzyme-responsive fluorescent nanopesticides (denoted as ABM@BSA-FITC/GA NPs) based on abamectin, fluorescein isothiocyanate isomer (FITC)-modified protein, and food-grade gum arabic. The as-prepared ABM@BSA-FITC/GA NPs exhibit good water dispersibility, excellent storage stability, and enhanced wettability compared to commercial formulations. The controlled release of pesticides can be achieved through protein degradation caused by trypsin. Most importantly, the deposition, distribution, and transport of the ABM@BSA-FITC/GA NPs are precisely tracked on target plants (cabbage and cucumber) by fluorescence. Furthermore, the ABM@BSA-FITC/GA NPs show the high control efficacy against Plutella xylostella L., which is comparable with commercial emulsifiable concentrate formulation. In consideration of its eco-friendly composition and absence of organic solvent, this pesticide nanoformulation has promising potential in sustainable plant protection.

ISOTHERMAL TITRATION CALORIMETRY (ITC) AS A PROMISING TOOL IN PHARMACEUTICAL NANOTECHNOLOGY

Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) is a technique for evaluating the thermodynamic profiles of connection between two molecules, allowing the experimental design of nanoparticles systems with drugs and/or biological molecules. Taking into account the relevance of ITC, we conducted, therefore, an integrative revision of the literature, from 2000 to 2023, on the main purposes of using this technique in pharmaceutical nanotechnology. The search were carried out in the Pubmed, Sciencedirect, Web of Science, and Scifinder databases using the descriptors "Nanoparticles", "Isothermal Titration Calorimetry", and "ITC". We have observed that the ITC technique has been increasingly used in pharmaceutical nanotechnology, seeking to understand the interaction mechanisms in the formation of nanoparticles. Additionally, to understand the behavior of nanoparticles with biological materials (proteins, DNA, cell membranes, among others), thereby helping to understand the behavior of nanocarriers in vivo studies. As a contribution, we intended to reveal the importance of ITC in the laboratory routine, which is itself a quick and easy technique to obtain relevant results that help to optimize the nanosystems formulation process.

Bacterial outer membrane vesicles-cloaked modified zein nanoparticles for oral delivery of paclitaxel

To improve the aqueous solubility and oral bioavailability of paclitaxel (PTX), a biomimetic system for oral administration of PTX was efficiently developed as an outer membrane vesicle (OMVs) of sodium caseinate (CAS) modified zein nanoparticles (OMVs-Zein-CAS-PTX-NPs) by Escherichia coli. To verify their structure and properties, the designed nanostructures were thoroughly characterized using various characterization techniques. The results indicated that hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces mainly drove the interaction between PTX and Zein, but the complex is unstable. The physicochemical stability of PTX-loaded zein nanoparticles was improved by the addition of CAS. The biological characteristics of biofilms are reproduced by nanoparticles cloaked with outer membrane vesicles. OMVs-Zein-CAS-PTX-NPs delayed the release of PTX under simulated gastric and intestinal fluids due to OMVs protection. OMVs-Zein-CAS-PTX-NPs exhibited remarkable antitumor ability in vitro and improved the bioavailability of oral administration of PTX in vivo. Therefore, OMVs cloaked in nanoparticles may be a suitable delivery vehicle to provide an efficient application prospect for the oral administration of PTX.

Properties of curcumin-loaded zein-tea saponin nanoparticles prepared by antisolvent co-precipitation and precipitation

The properties of nutraceutical-loaded biopolymer nanoparticles fabricated by antisolvent co-precipitation (ASCP) and precipitation (ASP) were compared. Curcumin-loaded zein-tea saponin nanoparticles were fabricated using both methods and then their structural and physicochemical properties were characterized. The diameter of the nanoparticles prepared by ASCP were smaller (120-130 nm) than those prepared by ASP (140-160 nm). The encapsulation efficiency of the ASCP-nanoparticles (80.0%) was higher than the ASP-ones (71.0%) at a zein-to-curcumin mass ratio of 3:1, which was also higher than previous studies. The storage and light stability of curcumin was higher in zein-saponin nanoparticles than in zein nanoparticles. All nanoparticles had good water dispersibility after freeze-drying and rehydration. This study shows that nanoparticles produced by antisolvent co-precipitation have superior properties to those produced by antisolvent precipitation. The co-precipitation method leads to a higher encapsulation efficiency, smaller particle size, and greater storage stability, which may be advantageous for some applications.

Recent Advances on Pickering Emulsions Stabilized by Diverse Edible Particles: Stability Mechanism and Applications

Pickering emulsions, which are stabilized by particles, have gained considerable attention recently because of their extreme stability and functionality. A food-grade particle is preferred by the food or pharmaceutical industries because of their noteworthy natural benefits (renewable resources, ease of preparation, excellent biocompatibility, and unique interfacial properties). Different edible particles are reported by recent publications with distinct shapes resulting from the inherent properties of raw materials and fabrication methods. Furthermore, they possess distinct interfacial properties and functionalities. Therefore, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the recent advances in the stabilization of Pickering emulsions using diverse food-grade particles, as well as their possible applications in the food industry.

Tumor-targeted delivery of honokiol via polysialic acid modified zein nanoparticles prevents breast cancer progression and metastasis

In this work, we developed polysialic acid (PSA) modified zein nanoparticles for targeted delivery of honokiol (HNK) to enhance drug delivery efficiency and specific biodistribution at tumor sites. The antisolvent precipitation and electrostatic interaction methods were employed to fabricate the PSA-Zein-HNK nanoparticles, which exhibited mean size of 107.2 ± 10.1 nm and HNK encapsulation efficiency of 79.2 ± 2.3%. The PSA-Zein-HNK maintained a uniform dispersion in serum for 48 h, implying the improved colloid stability of zein nanoparticles via PSA coating. The cellular uptake of PSA-Zein-Cou6 nanoparticles in 4 T1 cells was 2.58-fold higher than non-targeting Zein-Cou6. In addition, the IC₅₀ value at 48 h for PSA-Zein-HNK (4.37 μg/mL) was significantly higher than the Zein-HNK (7.74 μg/mL). Enhanced tumor accumulation of the PSA-Zein-HNK was confirmed in 4 T1 breast cancer-bearing mice by near-infrared fluorescence imaging, resulting in desirable antitumor efficacy and favorable biosafety. Besides, compared with non-targeting zein nanoparticles, the PSA-Zein-HNK achieved a higher tumor growth inhibition rate of 52.3%. In particular, the metastasis of breast cancer to the lung or liver was remarkably suppressed by PSA-Zein-HNK. Together, our results demonstrated that the PSA-Zein-HNK could be a potential tumor-targeted drug delivery strategy for efficient treatment of breast cancer.

Phospholipid/zein hybrid nanoparticles as promising carriers for the protection and delivery of all-trans retinoic acid

A totally biodegradable mixed system made up of phospholipids and zein was developed in order to effectively improve the photostability of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) preserving its pharmacological properties. Photon correlation spectroscopy showed that the formulation obtained using phospholipon 85G and zein at a ratio of 7:3 w/w was characterized by an average diameter of less than 200 nm, a narrow size distribution and a significant time- and temperature-dependent stability. The use of specific cryoprotectants such as mannose and glucose favoured the long-term storage of the nanocarriers after the freeze-drying procedure. The nanoparticles increased the stability of the ATRA against photochemical degradation with respect to the free drug and its antitumor effect was preserved as a consequence of the cell uptake of the colloidal systems. The results demonstrate the potential of the proposed hybrid nanosystems to provide a high level of stabilization for sensitive and labile antitumor compounds.

Drug-zein@lipid hybrid nanoparticles: Electrospraying preparation and drug extended release application

The reasonable selection and elaborate conversion of raw materials into desired functional products represent a main topic in modern material engineering. In this study, zein (a plant protein) and lipids (extracted from egg yolk) are converted into a new type of drug-polymer@lipid hybrid nanoparticles (HNPs) via modified coaxial electrospraying. Tamoxifen citrate (TC) is used as a model anticancer drug to prepare TC-zein monolithic nanocomposites (MNCs) via traditional blended electrospraying; these MNCs are then used for comparison. Modified coaxial electrospraying is a continuous and robust process for the preparation of solid particles because of the action of unsolidifiable shell lipid solutions. HNPs have a round morphology with clear core-shell nanostructures, whereas MNCs have an indented flat morphology. Although both hold the drug in an amorphous state because of the fine compatibility of TC and zein, HNPs demonstrate a better sustained release of TC compared with MNCs in terms of retarding initial burst release (6.7 %±2.9 % vs. 37.2 %±4.3 %) and prolonged linear release period (20.47 h vs. 4.97 h for releasing 90 % of the loaded drug). Mechanisms by which the shell's lipid layer adjusts the release behavior of TC molecules are proposed. The present protocol based on coaxial electrospraying shows a new strategy of combining edible protein and lipids to fabricate advanced functional nanomaterials.