Proteins in Cosmetics
E. Desmond Goddard, James V. Gruber in Principles of Polymer Science and Technology in Cosmetics and Personal Care, 1999
Numerous studies have found correlation between the protein denaturing and solubilization potential of tensides and their skin irritancy. The zein solubilization test (zein is a highly insoluble protein containing cystine residues) was proposed more than 30 years ago as an in vitro method to predict the irritancy of surfactant systems (108). Despite its strong theoretical limitations due to the structural differences of this protein and human keratins, a good correlation of the results obtainable by this test method with data obtained on wool keratin solubilization has been reported in more recent work (109). Another predictive test in vitro for detergent irritancy is based on the swelling response of a collagen membrane: the water uptake of an insoluble film of reticulated collagen immersed in a surfactant system is directly proportional to the ability of the tenside molecules to permeate, swell, and hydrate the collagen matrix and is well correlated to the in vivo irritancy of the system as determined by the classic soap chamber test procedure (110). Other methods that have been used to evaluate the degree of protein denaturation caused by surfactants and their blends were based on measurement of the denaturation of ovalbumin, human serum albumin, and other animal proteins by evaluation of their chromatographic behavior in a gel filtration system (111), and measurement of the change of specific rotation of their solution (112). Other authors have evaluated the amount of thiol groups and amino acids liberated from human skin and hair keratin after exposure to various tensides.
Transcriptionally Regulatory Sequences of Phylogenetic Significance
S. K. Dutta in DNA Systematics, 2019
Zein, a major storage protein of corn, is transcribed from two promoter regions (P1, and P2) into RNA of distinct sizes, ranging from 900 bp for mature mRNA to 1800 bp for the smallest precursor. These promoters, separated by about 1 kb of AT rich sequence, appear to be independently active in vivo and in vitro and may serve as double starts. When injected into Xenopus oocytes, however, P2 is preferred in initiation of transcription. The sequences of these two promoters are (1) CAAT … TATAAT … P1 … ATGCCTAATGG and (2) CAAAAT … TATATAT … P2 … ACCTATAATATTTT.68
Polymer Materials for Oral and Craniofacial Tissue Engineering
Vincenzo Guarino, Marco Antonio Alvarez-Pérez in Current Advances in Oral and Craniofacial Tissue Engineering, 2020
Zein is a vegetable protein found in the endosperm of corn that has been explored for tissue engineering and drug delivery application due to its excellent biocompatibility (Dong et al. 2004; Zhang et al. 2016). The amino acid sequence is characterized by hydrophobic and neutral amino acids, and sole polar amino acids. Due to its composition, zein is a hydrophobic protein, which may contribute to controlling the material degradation for tissue engineering, and allowing longer and sustained release of drugs as carrier (Ali et al. 2014; Zhang et al. 2016).
Beta carotene-loaded zein nanoparticles to improve the biopharmaceutical attributes and to abolish the toxicity of methotrexate: a preclinical study for breast cancer
Published in Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine, and Biotechnology, 2018
Ashay Jain, Gajanand Sharma, Varun Kushwah, Gargi Ghoshal, Atul Jain, Bhupinder Singh, U. S. Shivhare, Sanyog Jain, O. P. Katare
Nowadays, scientists are showing interest in amphiphilic molecules based nano-sized drug delivery systems owing to their unique core–shell structures, and their ability to transport through cell membranes. Additionally, the core of the self-assemble system of amphiphilic polymer offers an ideal compartment for various bioactives especially hydrophobic substances to load within it [21]. Zein is a naturally abundant major corn protein. Unlike most natural materials, it is amphiphilic, having both hydrophilic and hydrophobic compounds in its molecule, where over 50% of the amino acid in it is hydrophobic. An amphiphile, such as zein, has the ability to self-assemble into different structures, including spheres, sponges and films [22–25], thus used extensively to enclose various bioactives such as citral [23], α-tocopherol [26], vitamin D3 [27], flax oil [28] and essential oil [29]. Nowadays, zein is widely using by food and pharmaceutical industries due to its ease of availability, biodegradability, biocompatibility, good bioavailability and low cost [26].
Nano-liposomal zein hydrolysate for improved apoptotic activity and therapeutic index in lung cancer treatment
Published in Drug Delivery, 2022
Sahand Mazloum-Ravasan, Maryam Mohammadi, Elaheh Madadi Hiagh, Alireza Ebrahimi, Joo-Hyun Hong, Hamed Hamishehkar, Ki Hyun Kim
Zein is obtained as a by-product of corn starch processing and so that 45-50% of corn protein is composed of it. Due to the negative nitrogen balance and poor solubility in water, zein isolate is not directly applicable for human consumption (Shukla & Cheryan, 2001). Also, zein is widely used in nano drug delivery systems due to its good biocompatibility (Yu et al., 2020). Protein hydrolysis improves the function of a protein by modifying the protein, which involves chemical and biological changes that alter the physicochemical and functional properties of the protein by changing the structure of the protein (Yalcin & Çelik, 2007). Zein hydrolysate (ZH) has been shown to possess many beneficial effects, including antihypertensive (Miyoshi et al., 1991), anti-inflammatory (Liang et al., 2018), and antioxidant (Tang et al., 2010) effects, and it can relieve or reduce the risk of many chronic diseases (Ashaolu, 2020).
Lactoferrin-decorated vs PEGylated zein nanospheres for combined aromatase inhibitor and herbal therapy of breast cancer
Published in Expert Opinion on Drug Delivery, 2018
Sarah A. El-Lakany, Nazik A. Elgindy, Maged W. Helmy, Marwa M Abu-Serie, Ahmed O. Elzoghby
Natural proteins are considered ideal carriers for tumor-targeted drug delivery, since they are digestible, metabolizable, biodegradable, and biocompatible [19]. Zein as a natural GRAS polymer is one of the best biomacromolecules abundantly available and utilized as an alternative to synthetic polymers for various industrial and medical applications. Moreover, Podaralla et al. [13] studied the immunogenicity of micelles prepared by PEG conjugation to zein. The PEGylated zein micelles were confirmed to be non-immunogenic in mice. They did not elicit any anti-zein antibodies and were stable upon dilution with buffers as well as 10% serum [13]. The hydrophobic nature of zein can be exploited for sustained drug delivery applications which may improve therapeutic efficacy, reduce the dosing frequency and lead to enhanced patient compliance [20]. Being easily modified to target the tumor tissue, zein surface offers additional advantages as a polymeric coat.