Safety of Zein Nanoparticles on Human Innate Immunity and Inflammation.

In recent years, natural polymers have attracted great interest for the development of release systems for vaccine formulations and drug delivery. Zein, a hydrophobic proline-rich protein mixture obtained from maize, is one of the most widely used polymers, very promising for applications in tissue engineering and the parenteral delivery of bioactive agents. Still, we have a limited understanding of the interaction between zein particles and the human immune system, in particular innate immunity/inflammation, which is the first line of defense of our body.

In Vitro Mucoadhesive Features of Gliadin Nanoparticles Containing Thiamine Hydrochloride.

Background: Gliadins have aroused significant interest in the last decade as suitable biomaterials for food and pharmaceutical applications. In particular, the oral route is the preferred method of administration for gliadin-based formulations, due to the affinity of this biomaterial for the gut mucosa. However, up to now, this has been demonstrated only by means of in vivo or ex vivo studies.

Lipid- and polymer-based formulations containing TNF-α inhibitors for the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases.

Monoclonal antibodies inhibiting tumor necrosis factor-alpha (iTNF-α) have revolutionized the therapeutic regimen of inflammatory bowel disease, but their main drawback is the parenteral route of administration they require. An alternative approach lies in the delivery of these molecules to the area involved in the inflammatory process by means of innovative formulations able to promote their localization in affected tissues while also decreasing the number of administrations required. This review describes the advantages deriving from the use of lipid- and polymer-based systems containing iTNF-α, focusing on their physicochemical and technological properties and discussing the preclinical results obtained in vivo using rodent models of colitis.

Rutin-loaded zein gel as a green biocompatible formulation for wound healing application.

Wound healing is a challenging clinical problem and efficient wound management is essential to prevent infection. This is best done by utilizing biocompatible materials in order to complete the healing in a rapid manner, with functional and esthetic outcomes. In this context, the zein protein fulfills the criteria of the ideal wound dressing which include non-toxicity and non-inflammatory stimulation.

DIFUCOSIN: DIclofenac sodium salt loaded FUCOidan-SericIN nanoparticles for the management of chronic inflammatory diseases.

The current investigation emphasizes the use of fucoidan and sericin as dual-role biomaterials for obtaining novel nanohybrid systems for the delivery of diclofenac sodium (DS) and the potential treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases. The innovative formulations containing 4 mg/ml of fucoidan and 3 mg/ml of sericin showed an average diameter of about 200 nm, a low polydispersity index (0.17) and a negative surface charge.