title: Zein-Based Nanofibres for Drug Delivery: Classes and Current Applications.
abstract: Plant proteins have been drawing increasing attention owing to their safety, abundance and relatively low cost in comparison with animal proteins. The development of plant protein-based delivery vehicles may lead to the provision of novel pharmaceutical products to patients. Zein is a class of alcohol-soluble prolamine proteins present in maize endosperm that was approved as a generally recognised as safe excipient in 1985 by the US FDA for use in pharmaceutical film coatings. Over the past few decades, numerous studies have been carried out to illustrate zein's potential for novel applications in the biomedical field. This paper reviews the present status of zein-based nanofibres, with emphasis on their fabrication and biomedical applications, particularly for drug delivery. Their benefits and limitations are also discussed to provide further insight into zein's potential as a promising biomaterial.
authors.affiliation: National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Qianjin Street No. 2699, Changchun 130012, China. zhangyongking1@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Lili
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Heng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Yanan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Nianqiu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Chunlei
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Qianjin Street No. 2699, Changchun 130012, China. weikong@jlu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kong
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006801:Humans; D057139:Nanofibers / Q000737:chemistry*; D050997:Nanomedicine; D015028:Zein / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D015028:Zein