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Zein has been used in several pharmaceutical applications because of its unique composition. It is an amphiphilic molecule that is biodegradable, biocompatible, and has adhesive, matrix-forming, and film-coating properties, making it a promising pharmaceutical excipient. Zein-based formulations have been investigated in tablet-coating, nanoparticulate delivery systems, and controlled-release formulations. However, to date, very few studies have been performed on the inclusion of zein in solid dispersion formulations to enhance drug dissolution. This study aimed to improve the dissolution of the weakly basic and poorly soluble oral dasatinib (used as a model) using zein–hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) solid dispersion to achieve rapid disintegration and dissolution in the gastric pH. Using the spray-drying technique, four solid dispersions were prepared with different zein, HPMC, and dasatinib ratios. Subsequently, five different tablets were directly compressed using the previously prepared solid dispersions along with basic excipients. Various in vitro characterization analyses were performed to predict their behavior in vivo. Particle size measurement, tablet weight variation and content assay, disintegration, and dissolution studies were also performed. The results indicated that zein solid dispersion improved the disintegration and dissolution of dasatinib in the gastric media by reducing the drug particle size and the formation of the dasatinib amorphous state. Moreover, the tablets exhibited desirable properties in terms of high drug content, friability, and tensile strength. In conclusion, tablets comprising zein–HPMC solid dispersion showed improved properties; however, including a higher ratio of zein in the solid dispersion adversely affected the disintegration and release properties of formulations.
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@#PLZ-NPs (PNS-lipid-zein nanoparticles) prepared by co-assembly of Panax notoginseng saponins, lecithin, β-sitosterol and zein were applied for in vitro cell experiment and oral gavage to study the protective effect of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion rats.PLZ-NPs were characterized by Malvin-particle size analyzer and transmission electron microscope (TEM), respectively. The toxicity of PLZ-NPs and free carrier were evaluated by MTT, and the uptake of nanoparticles in Caco-2 cells was analyzed by laser confocal and flow cytometry. The cerebral ischemia reperfusion rat model was established by MCAO method and then be given samples by gavage for 3 days. The brain tissues were taken to stain by 2, 3, 5-triphenyltetrazole chloride (TTC) and the biochemical indicators of MDA, inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and TNF-α, apoptosis-related proteins Bax and Bcl-2 from the harvested brain tissues were detected to evaluate the protective effect of PNS in PLZ-NPs on cerebral ischemia reperfusion. The particle size, PDI, and zeta potential of formed PLZ-NPs were (116.4 ± 0.81) nm, 0.048 and -(31.5 ± 0.31) mV, respectively. The results of MTT showed that the zein lipoprotein carrier was non-toxic to Caco-2 cells. The results of laser confocal and flow cytometry showed that FITC uptake of nanoparticles could be significantly improved in Caco-2 cells.The uptake from the nanoparticles at 4h was 1.76 times of that of the free FITC group.Compared with the model group, the TTC staining images of free drug PNS group and PLZ-NPs group showed certain reduction in the white infarct area.The contents of MDA, IL-1β, TNF-α and Bax were significantly decreased, while the content of Bcl-2 was significantly increased. Furthermore, all parameters of PLZ-NPs group showed better results than those of PNS group, and there was a significant difference (P < 0.05). All results indicated that the prepared PLZ-NPs had good stability and biological safety, and could significantly increase the uptake in intestinal epithelial cells, and effectively protect against the damage caused by cerebral ischemia reperfusion in rats.
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Background: Hernia is a common problem of the modern world with an incidence ranging from 5 to 7%. Of all groin hernias, around 75% are inguinal hernias. Recently with the advancement in laparoscopy, endoscopic repairs seem to offer better quality of life, decreasing hospital stay and early return to work. Aim of the work was to evaluate a new technique for mesh fixation by Zein method of suturing and compare it with stapled mesh fixation in laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair transabdominal preperitoneal approach.Methods: The study is a randomized, prospective single group study. The study was conducted after the approval of the ethical committee of the surgical department, Menoufia University. It was conducted in Menoufia University Hospital on 50 patients with inguinal hernia who were operated upon between September 2018 and September 2019 with a minimal follow-up of 6 months.Results: Age of studied patients ranged from 27 to 55 years with mean 42.82±7.90 age/years. Regarding sex of studied patients, more than half (74%) of studied patients were males and (26%) were females. Regarding comparsion between high and low overall cost burden on the patient, it was interestingly found that high cost is associated with presence of complication like hematoma, prolonged stay in the hospital and prolonged use of antibiotics.Conclusions: Both the use of sutures and fixation of mesh by absorbable tacks approaches are similarly effective in terms of operative time, the incidence of recurrence, complications, and chronic pain coinciding with all the available literature.
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Objective To prepare a honokiol (HNK)-loaded zein nano-drug delivery system with low biotoxicity and to investigate its inhibitory effect on MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. Methods Zein-HNK nano-drug delivery system was prepared by anti-solvent method . The particle size‚ dispersion‚ morphological characteristics‚ encapsulation efficiency and in vitro release behavior of the system were investigated. The effects of this system on the proliferation‚ apoptosis‚ migration and invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells were evaluated. Results The particle size of Zein-HNK was (83. 75±2. 95) nm and the polymer dispersity index(PDI) of it was 0. 132± 0. 015. The encapsulation efficiency of HNK was (93. 04± 1. 86)%. The in vitro release rate of Free-HNK group was(88. 90% ± 2. 58)% and release rate of Zein-HNK group was (69. 10± 1. 88)% at 24 hours. Cytotoxicity evaluation showed the 50% inhibiting concentration(IC
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OBJECTIVE: To improve the stability and oral bioavailability of paeoniflorin, develop solid and hollow zein-paeoniflorin nanoparticles, and compare their properties and in vitro release. METHODS: The solid and hollow zein-paeoniflorin nanoparticles were fabricated by phase separation method, and the processing parameters were optimized according to the entrapment efficiency by orthogonal design. The morphology and mean size of nanoparticles were investigated and in vitro release was carried out using the optimal prescription. RESULTS: The mass of paeoniflorin, the concentration of zein and the stirring time in optimal prescription of solid zein-paeoniflorin nanoparticles were 10 mg, 10 mg•mL-1 and 2 h, respectively. These three factors in optimal prescription of hollow zein-paeoniflorin nanoparticles were 20 mg, 5 mg•mL-1 and 1 h, respectively. The obtained nanoparticles of solid and hollow zein-paeoniflorin nanoparticles were spherical with a mean particle size of 110 and 50 nm. And the drug load efficiency and entrapment efficiency of solid and hollow zein-paeoniflorin nanoparticles were 26.94%, 53.87%, 44.52% and 55.65%, respectively. In vitro release of both formulations indicated sustained release effect. CONCLUSION: The solid and hollow zein-paeoniflorin nanoparticles are successfully prepared by phase separation method. The method is simple and reliable. Compared with solid nanoparticles, the drug load efficiency of hollow nanoparticles is greatly improved, and in vitro studies of hollow zein-paeoniflorin nanoparticles show much slower release.
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Abstract Cordyceps militaris 202 is a potential fungus for biotransformation zein, due to its various proteases, high tolerance and viability in nature. In this article, single factor experiment and response surface methodology were applied to optimize the liquid fermentation conditions and improve the ability of biotransformation zein. The optimized fermentation conditions were as follows: inoculum concentration of 19%, volume of liquor of 130 mL/500 mL and pH of 4.7. Under this condition, the degree of hydrolysis (DH) was 27.31%. The zein hydrolysates from fungi fermentation maintained a high thermal stability. Compared to the original zein, the zein hydrolysates were found to have high solubility, which most likely results in improved foaming and emulsifying properties. Overall, this research demonstrates that hydrolysis of zein by C. militaris 202 is a potential method for improving the functional properties of zein, and the zein hydrolysates can be used as functional ingredients with an increased antioxidant effect in both food and non-food applications.
Subject(s)
Zein/metabolism , Zein/chemistry , Cordyceps/metabolism , Batch Cell Culture Techniques/methods , Protein Hydrolysates/metabolism , Protein Hydrolysates/chemistry , Solubility , Biotransformation , Fermentation , HydrolysisABSTRACT
As proteínas do endosperma dos grãos de milho, referente às zeínas, apresentam grau de polimerização importante para formação de filmes em alimentos, sendo útil na conservação destes. Nesta revisão, serão abordadas formas de extração destas proteínas, através da solubilidade de seus aminoácidos em solventes alcoolicos e métodos combinados dos tratamentos químicos e enzimáticos. O polímero de zeína pode substituir polímeros sintéticos empregados em embalagens para alimentos, atribuindo valor econômico para a indústria do milho. Sua aplicação em filmes proporciona características funcionais de estabilidade de massa, controle microbiano e redução da oxidação lipídica em determinados alimentos, durante o seu armazenamento.
The proteins of the endosperm of corn, referring to zein, have important degree of polymerization for the formation of the films on food, being useful in the conservation of it. This review will address ways of extracting these proteins by their amino acid solubility in alcoholic solvents and methods of combined chemical and enzymatic treatments. The polymer of zein can replace synthetic polymers used in food packaging, it contributes for economic value to the corn industry. Its application in films provides functional characteristics of mass stability, microbial control and reduction of lipid oxidation in some kind of food during storage.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of electronspun PLGA/HAp/Zein scaffolds on the repair of cartilage defects.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The PLGA/HAp/Zein composite scaffolds were fabricated by electrospinning method. The physiochemical properties and biocompatibility of the scaffolds were separately characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) culture and animal experiments.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The prepared PLGA/HAp/Zein scaffolds showed fibrous structure with homogenous distribution. hUC-MSCs could attach to and grow well on PLGA/HAp/Zein scaffolds, and there was no significant difference between cell proliferation on scaffolds and that without scaffolds (P>0.05). The PLGA/HAp/Zein scaffolds possessed excellent ability to promote in vivo cartilage formation. Moreover, there was a large amount of immature chondrocytes and matrix with cartilage lacuna on PLGA/HAp/Zein scaffolds.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The data suggest that the PLGA/HAp/Zein scaffolds possess good biocompatibility, which are anticipated to be potentially applied in cartilage tissue engineering and reconstruction.</p>
Subject(s)
Animals , Female , Humans , Male , Young Adult , Biocompatible Materials , Bone Development , Physiology , Cartilage , Cells, Cultured , Durapatite , Chemistry , Lactic Acid , Chemistry , Mesenchymal Stem Cells , Physiology , Polyglycolic Acid , Chemistry , Regeneration , Physiology , Tissue Scaffolds , Chemistry , Zein , ChemistryABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To prepare nifedipine-mPEG-g-Zein sustained-release microspheres, making use of the mechanism that hydrophilic mPEG-g-Zein can be self-assembled into micelles in the water to increase the solubility of the poorly water-soluble drug nifedipine, and to examine its in vitro and in vivo release behaviors. METHODS: The nifedipine-mPEG-g-Zein microspheres were prepared by the method of suspension interfacial crosslinking. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) was used as the capsule material. The particle size, drug-loading rate, encapsulation efficiency and the total in vitro drug release were examined. The plasma levels of nifedipine at different time points were determined by HPLC after oral administration of a single dose of the self-made microspheres (test formulation) and marketed tablets (reference formulation) to mice. The pharmacokinetics and relative bioavailability were analyzed. RESULTS: The average diameter of the microcapsules was 22 μm (in which the average particle size of nano-micelles was 200 nm), and the drug loading, encapsulation efficiency, and the total in vitro drug release were 15.16%, 85.8% and 93.8%. The relative bioavailability the microspheres to the tablets was 166%. CONCLUSION: The microspheres are round and the size distribution is uniform. Meanwhile, the in vitro release profile shows obvious sustained-release characteristics, and the relative bioavailability is increased.
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The texture of corn grains is a fundamental characteristic for the industry as well as for grain producers and processors. To further understand the mechanisms involved in grain hardness, contrasting corn cultivars for grain hardness and protein quality were evaluated. The cultivars were Cateto L237/67 (hard endosperm and low protein value), QPM BR 451 (semi-hard endosperm and high protein value); Bolivia-2 (floury endosperm and low protein value), and Opaque-2 (floury endosperm and high protein value). Evaluations were carried out at 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 days after pollination in developing corn grains and in the mature grain. In developing grains, evaluation consisted in the determination of the area, percentage of starch granules, distribution of starch granules, and protein bodies in the endosperm. In mature corn grains, the parameters evaluated were: density, percentage of total proteins, levels of lysine and tryptophan, and banding pattern of zeins. The results indicate that the higher physical resistance of corn grains from the cultivars analyzed is influenced by the high percentage of total proteins, high synthesis of 27-kDa zeins, presence of protein bodies, and perfect organization of starch granules in the endosperm, independent of their sizes.