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Abstract The present work aims to prepare and stabilize zein colloidal nanoparticles using soluble soybean polysaccharide (SSPS) as a stabilizer. A simple antisolvent precipitation method was used to fabricate the zein/SSPS composite nanoparticles at pH 4.0. The results showed that the SSPS-stabilized zein nanoparticles (size around 200 nm, PDI below 0.2) did not aggregate or precipitate at pH 2.0–8.0. And they were also relatively stable for elevated ionic strength and high temperature. Affected by the SSPS coating, the surface hydrophobicity of the zein nanoparticles decreased over a wide pH range. Conditions of forming zein/SSPS nanoparticles were successfully used to encapsulate hydrophobic quercetin (Q). The encapsulation efficiency was greatly improved to 82.5% after SSPS coating, compared to 59.2% for the zein without coating. Besides, the photochemical stability and ABTS+ scavenging ability of Q in zein/SSPS composite nanoparticles were significantly enhanced. This study demonstrates that these composite nanoparticles can be used as all-natural delivery systems for bioactive molecules in food and pharmaceutical formulations. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • Zein nanoparticles were prepared using SSPS as a stabilizer. • SSPS could stabilize zein nanoparticles in pH range 2.0–8.0. • The "core-shell" structure formed between zein and SSPS. • Surface hydrophobicity of zein nanoparticles decreased due to the coating of SSPS. • Quercetin was efficiently encapsulated and protected by composite nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, caseinate-stabilized zein particles (zein-Cas) were developed at neutral pH to encapsulate fucoxanthin (FX) using a simple antisolvent precipitation method. Fluorescence results indicated that zein or Cas interact with fucoxanthin by hydrophobic contacts with a binding constant magnitude of 10 5  M −1 . The presence of proteins resulted in altering the FX precipitates from irregular shape to spherical shape at higher zein proportions, as confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. The average particle size of FX-loaded zein-Cas particles was below 150 nm (100 to 130 nm) with negative surface charge (−30 to −35 mV). The encapsulated FX showed higher stability, antioxidant activity and antiproliferative activity than free FX. Besides, the bioaccessibility of encapsulated FX was appreciably higher than it was not encapsulated. These results demonstrated that FX-loaded zein-Cas nanoparticles could enable the application of FX in functional foods and beverages, as well as in pharmaceutical products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The curcumin (Cur) loaded ternary self-assembly composite nanoparticles consisting of zein, chondroitin sulfate (CS) and sophorolipid (Spl) were designed successfully with zein-to-Spl mass ratio of 1:1 (Cur-Z/CS/SplNPs 1:1), showing nano-spherical structure with high ζ-potential and encapsulation efficiency. The encapsulation process converted Cur from crystal to amorphous nature, involving electrostatic force, hydrophobic interaction and hydrogen bonding. Spl improved the resistance of zein to degeneration with or without Cur and CS. Cur-Z/CS/SplNPs 1:1 showed stability at pH > 4.0 and the better thermostability (80 °C) at a faster rate. Additionally, Cur showed the best chemical stability in Cur-Z/CS/SplNPs 1:1 under the condition of 4 °C in the dark with half-life of 58.74. And Cur-Z/CS/SplNPs 1:1 enhanced the aqueous solubility of Cur about 160 times higher than that of free Cur in powder state. Furthermore, Cur-Z/CS/SplNPs 1:1 exhibited the biocompatibility, bioaccessibility (68.06%) and anticancer activity against HepG2, MCF-7 and HeLa cells. This study provides new insights into the application of Spl in protein/polysaccharide delivery systems in the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. Image 1 • Sophorolipid was used in protein/polysaccharide composite nanoparticles firstly. • The solubility of curcumin increased by about 160 times for powder nanoparticles. • The designed ternary self-assembly nanoparticles showed biocompatibility. • Sophorolipid improved the anticancer activity against HepG2, MCF-7 and HeLa cells. • Sophorolipid enhanced the bioaccessibility of curcumin to 68.06%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, zein/soluble soybean polysaccharide (SSPS) composite nanoparticles were fabricated using a facile antisolvent precipitation method to encapsulate lutein. The ternary system can self-assemble to spherical nanoparticles (about 200 nm) with relatively uniform size (PDI around 0.15) and negative charge (about −33.56 mV). For the 25:1 mass ratio of zein to lutein, the encapsulation efficiency was higher than 80%. Notably, the encapsulation was dominated by zein which could bind lutein and form zein-lutein complexes spontaneously in aqueous ethanol. The aqueous solubility and chemical stability of lutein were both enhanced greatly upon encapsulation. The composite nanoparticles also showed exceptional pH stability and elevated salt stability. Cytotoxicity assay indicated thee nanocarriers are non-toxic and biocompatible. The bioaccessibility of encapsulated lutein (32.11%) was greatly higher than that of non-encapsulated lutein (16.21%). These results suggested that zein/SSPS composite nanoparticles may be a promising delivery system for lutein, which could be used as an ingredient for the formulation of beverages or functional foods. Image 1 • Zein-based nanoparticles can effectively encapsulate and protect lutein. • Colloidal stability was improved by soluble soybean polysaccharide coating. • Lutein-loaded composite nanoparticles are nontoxic and biocompatible. • In vitro bioaccessibility of lutein was enhanced significantly with encapsulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]