title: Preparation, characterization and application of a novel biodegradable macromolecule: carboxymethyl zein.
abstract: Zein, a naturally biocompatible and biodegradable macromolecule, is widely used as plastic film material; however, the poor water solubility limits its other applications. In this study, we aimed to obtain carboxymethyl zein (CM-zein) by modifying it with sodium monochloroacetate in weakly basic environment. CM-zein showed a new FTIR peak of C-O-C bond at 1080 cm(-1), with a new signal region appearing at 4.0-4.05 ppm that assigned to the protons of the CH2 group from a carboxymethyl on (1)H NMR and a Tg of 168.0 °C by thermal analysis. Compared with the -12.3 mV of zeta potential of unmodified zein, CM-zein increased it significantly to -23.9 mV as a consequence of carboxymethylation. 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU), a model drug used in CM-zein-based tablet, was rarely detected in 0.1 mol/L HCl (pH 1.0) but it was released massively and quickly in phosphates buffer (pH 6.8) in vitro assays. The unmodified zein-based tablet illustrated much lower release level in these two fluids. Furthermore, the pharmacokinetic study of rats showed that CM-zein released 5-FU in intestine but not in stomach after dissolving. These findings indicated that CM-zein has the potential to be used for enteric preparation as a novel pH-selective biomaterial.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutics, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, 108 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, China.
authors.forename: Huayue
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Xin'an Medicine, Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, 108 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutics, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, 108 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutics, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, 108 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, China. Electronic address: lchchem@126.com.
authors.forename: Chuanhua
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D063566:Biodegradable Plastics / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004339:Drug Compounding; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D051381:Rats; D012995:Solubility; D013607:Tablets / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D014867:Water; D015028:Zein / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
chemical_list: D063566:Biodegradable Plastics; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D013607:Tablets; D014867:Water; D015028:Zein; D005472:Fluorouracil
keywords: 5-Fluorouracil; Biomaterial; Carboxymethyl zein