Interactions and complex stabilities of grape seed procyanidins with zein hydrolysate

The objective of this paper was to investigate the complex of grape seed procyanidins (GSP) with zein hydrolysate (ZH). The interaction was determined using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and fluorescence spectroscopy. The particle size, ζ-potential, scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) and stability test of the ZH-GSP complex were measured. The results of ITC, particle size and SEM suggested that there was a hydrogen bond-dominated interaction between GSP and ZH, and the ZH-GSP complex presented as a spherical shape with particle size of 234 nm, polydispersity index of 0.11 and ζ-potential of −46.4 mV. The results of the fluorescence spectroscopy showed that the fluorescence quenching effect of GSP on ZH was GSP concentration-dependent and the quenching process was mainly static quenching. The ZH-GSP complex had better physical stability in aqueous solution, and their solution was more stable than GSP solution under illumination and high-temperature treatment at 75°C.     

Recent Advances in Food-Packing,Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Applications of Zein and Zein-Based Materials

Zein is a biodegradable and biocompatible material extracted from renewable resources; it comprises almost 80% of the whole protein content in corn. This review highlights and describes some zein and zein-based materials, focusing on biomedical applications. It was demonstrated in this review that the biodegradation and biocompatibility of zein are key parameters for its uses in the food-packing, biomedical and pharmaceutical fields. Furthermore, it was pointed out that the presence of hydrophilic-hydrophobic groups in zein chains is a very important aspect for obtaining material with different hydrophobicities by mixing with other moieties (polymeric or not), but also for obtaining derivatives with different properties. The physical and chemical characteristics and special structure (at the molecular, nano and micro scales) make zein molecules inherently superior to many other polymers from natural sources and synthetic ones. The film-forming property of zein and zein-based materials is important for several applications. The good electrospinnability of zein is important for producing zein and zein-based nanofibers for applications in tissue engineering and drug delivery. The use of zein’s hydrolysate peptides for reducing blood pressure is another important issue related to the application of derivatives of zein in the biomedical field. It is pointed out that the biodegradability and biocompatibility of zein and other inherent properties associated with zein’s structure allow a myriad of applications of such materials with great potential in the near future.     

PDMDAAC改性玉米醇溶蛋白负载阿维菌素纳米颗粒的制备与性能

为提高阿维菌素叶面沉积率及其抗紫外分解性能,本文设计构建了叶面亲和的纳米载体。通过自由基聚合将聚二甲基二烯丙基氯化铵（PDMDAAC）改性玉米醇溶蛋白（Zein）,得到表面携带正电荷的改性玉米醇溶蛋白,并将其用于负载阿维菌素。采用红外光谱（FTIR）、扫描电镜（SEM）等手段对改性产物结构和形貌进行表征。通过反溶剂沉淀法制备了平均粒径为64.92nm的载药纳米粒子,载体对阿维菌素的包封率为(34.75±0.18)%。与植物表面的静电作用提升了纳米粒子悬浮液在植物表面的润湿性能,接触角大小随PDMDAAC接枝量增大而降低,由77.38°减小到64.60°;叶面滞留量可达33.69mg/cm²。改性玉米醇溶蛋白对阿维菌素的包覆提升了其抗紫外性能,半衰期由15min延长至40min,且阿维菌素的释放速率可通过PDMDAAC接枝率进行调控。     

Zein-based anti-browning cling wraps for fresh-cut apple slices

The usage of cling wraps is emerging as an easy and cost-effective approach to protect fresh-cut fruits and vegetables from dust, whilst improving visual appeal on retail counters. This study focused on developing an alternate, protein-based packaging material as a food grade cling wrap for food packaging applications. Zein-based cling wraps were produced, and their physical and mechanical characteristics were evaluated and compared with conventionally used chitosan biopolymer films and commercial synthetic polymer films. Antioxidant potential of the prepared films was studied, and the effectiveness of the developed films as anti-browning cling wraps was evaluated using studies conducted on fresh-cut apple slices at ambient conditions. Anti-browning effects were in par with polymeric counterparts; however, zein cling wraps could better prevent weight loss in apple slices. Zein-based films can be adopted as biodegradable food grade cling wraps as an alternative to chitosan and synthetic polymeric materials.     

Edible oxygen barrier bilayer film pouches from corn zein and soy protein isolate for olive oil packaging

An edible oxygen barrier film pouch was fabricated from a heat sealable corn zein (CZ) layer laminated on soy protein isolate (SPI) film and used to package olive oil condiments for use with instant noodles. The mechanical, barrier, and physical properties of the CZ/SPI bilayer films were then investigated and the oxidative stability of olive oil in the pouches was measured during storage under dry and intermediate relative humidity conditions. When compared to the SPI film, lamination with an additional layer of CZ film led to increased tensile strength and water barrier properties, while it had a lower elongation at break and decreased oxygen barrier properties. Nevertheless, the oxygen permeability of the CZ/SPI film (0.81 × 10⁻¹⁸ m³ m/m² s Pa) was lower than that of nylon-metalocene catalyzed linear low-density polyethylene (NY/mLLDPE) film (3.51 × 10⁻¹⁸ m³ m/m² s Pa) which is the material usually used for such condiments. The CZ/SPI bilayer films generated here were heat sealable at 120-130 °C and produced a seal strength greater than 300 N/m. The higher oxygen barrier property of the CZ/SPI bilayer films resulted in reduced oxidative rancidity of olive oil packaged in the CZ/SPI film when compared to olive oil packaged in NY/mLLDPE films.     

Reactive extrusion of zein with glyoxal

Cross‐linked zein has been produced using glyoxal (GLY) as the cross‐linking reagent via reactive extrusion for the first time in a twin screw extruder using dilute sodium hydroxide as catalyst. Tri(ethylene glycol) was used as a plasticizer for various items. The extrudate was then ground and processed using either compression or injection molding. At the highest level of GLY (6%), tri(ethylene glycol) was used at 10% as a plasticizer to allow further processing to take place. With this formulation, samples could be obtained from the injection mold, however, the samples did not hold their molded shape due to the elasticity of the sample at the mold temperature. When lower levels of GLY were used, injection molded sample bars of similar quality to control were obtained. The physical properties of these samples were similar to control. At GLY levels of 1.75% and higher, the samples were resistant to dissolution by acetic acid. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Electrospinning formaldehyde‐crosslinked zein solutions

In order to develop zein fibers with improved physical properties and solvent resistance, formaldehyde was used as a crosslinking reagent before spinning. The crosslinking reaction was carried out in either acetic acid or ethanolic HCl where the amount of crosslinking reagent was between 1 and 6%. Reactions were carried out at various times and temperatures. When carried out in acetic acid, the maximum amount of formaldehyde that could be used was 1.5% as gelation occurred at higher levels. In ethanolic HCl, 6% formaldehyde could be incorporated into zein. All solutions were successfully electrospun, producing predominantly ribbon and round fibers; the morphology was strongly dependent on solvent and spinning solids. The formaldehyde‐crosslinked zein fabrics had double the tensile strength of control fabrics. SDS‐PAGE analysis clearly showed crosslinking had occurred. Electrospun fabrics from all formaldehyde‐treated zein solutions required an additional heating step in order to be resistant to dissolution in acetic acid, a known very good solvent for zein. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

美拉德反应修饰对负载姜黄素的玉米醇溶蛋白纳米颗粒制备及性质的影响

目的研究玉米醇溶蛋白与D-木糖在65%(V:V)乙醇溶液中的美拉德反应及所得美拉德反应产物在反溶剂沉淀法制备姜黄素纳米颗粒中的应用。方法将玉米醇溶蛋白与D-木糖在乙醇溶中加热,利用所得产物通过反溶剂沉淀法制备姜黄素纳米颗粒,并对纳米颗粒进行表征。结果当D-木糖与玉米醇溶蛋白混合质量比为2:1、反应体系pH值为13.0、反应温度为90℃、反应时间为90 min时,反应体系的A290和A420值最大。利用在该条件下得到的美拉德反应产物通过反溶剂法制备姜黄素纳米颗粒,与未经修饰的玉米醇溶蛋白按照相同方法制备的姜黄素纳米颗粒相比,前者在水中的分散性明显提高,包埋效率和载药量分别显著增加113%和56%,且具有更好的缓释性能和贮藏稳定性。结论美拉德反应修饰的玉米醇溶蛋白在反溶剂沉淀法纳米颗粒的制备中具有广阔的应用前景。     

响应面试验优化微波辅助制备玉米蛋白膜工艺及其形态结构分析

利用微波辅助技术对玉米醇溶蛋白进行处理并制备玉米蛋白膜,以玉米蛋白膜的抗拉伸强度为考察指标,选择微波时间、微波功率、搅拌转速为优化因素,在单因素试验的基础上,通过响应面分析对玉米蛋白膜制备工艺进行优化。结果表明：当微波时间87 s、微波功率300 W、搅拌转速40 r/min时,玉米蛋白膜的抗拉伸强度达到最大,抗拉伸强度由10.23 MPa提高到15.16 MPa。玉米蛋白膜微观形态结构得到明显改善,扫描电子显微镜观察发现微波处理后玉米蛋白膜表面呈平整、光滑状。红外光谱研究结果表明微波处理对蛋白分子结构无明显破坏作用。     

Fabrication and characterization of zein/viscose textibe fibers

Azlons are increasingly concerned for their excellent performance properties and biodegradation. A kind of novel azlon, zein/viscose textibe fibers, were fabricated by wet‐spinning of zein and cellulose sulfonate blended solution. Some parameters that determine the fabrication process were optimized. The structure and properties of zein/viscose fibers were characterized, and compared with those of common viscose fibers. Dry breaking tenacity of zein/viscose fibers was 2.02 CN/dtex, whereas dry breaking elongation was 16.6%. Mechanical properties of zein/viscose fibers were a little better than common viscose fibers. The moisture regain rate of zein/viscose fibers was 14.1%, similar to that of viscose fibers. From the microstructure of zein/viscose fiber, viscose acted as framework and zein was accreted to viscose. The content of protein was 14.48% in zein/viscose fibers. The basic chains of zein and viscose were not changed by blended spinning, so the fibers had advantages of both zein and viscose. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010