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In recent years, the interest regarding the use of proteins as renewable resources has deeply intensified. The strongest impact of these biomaterials is clear in the field of smart medicines and biomedical engineering. Zein, a vegetal protein extracted from corn, is a suitable biomaterial for all the above-mentioned purposes due to its biodegradability and biocompatibility. The controlled drug delivery of small molecules, fabrication of bioactive membranes, and 3D assembly of scaffold for tissue regeneration are just some of the topics now being extensively investigated and reported in the literature. Herein, we review the recent literature on zein as a biopolymer and its applications in the biomedical world, focusing on the different shapes and sizes through which it can be manipulated.

In recent decades, biocompatible and light emitting porous silicon (pSi) showed the possibility for use in biomedical applications. Unfortunately, until now the biological applications of light-emitting pSi have been severely limited due the immediate surface oxidation of this nanostructured material, followed by loss of optical properties and degradation in aqueous solutions. In view of drug delivery, the red-ox activity of pSi damages the carried drug. Herein, we have investigated the stabilization of pSi microparticles in aqueous solution by covalent attachment of polymers to a short-chain organic coating grafted onto inorganic silicon. The morphological, chemical and optical stability obtained using polyethylene glycol confirm this biocompatible polymer as a superior shell matrix nanostructure for use in biological environments.

Diagnostic nanomedicine constantly requires the development of novel contrast agents with intrinsic imaging capabilities. Phosphorescent Ir(III)-complexes represent good candidates when delivered through polymeric nanoparticles. In this work, we propose a biocompatible nanoparticle made from an intrinsically phosphorescent copolymer, synthesized directly with an imaging tag present on its backbone. Polymeric nanoparticles can be obtained with the exact amount of phosphorescent moieties needed to maximize their output signal. Complete characterization and ex vivo studies confirmed that this nanosystem is suitable as a future diagnostic tool.