Injectable zein gel with in situ self-assembly as hemostatic material.

Zein is a biocompatible and biodegradable corn protein with promising properties for biomedical applications. It is hydrophobic with the ability to self-assemble in an aqueous medium. It can also form a gel in hydroalcoholic solvents at higher concentrations.

Improvement of mechanical properties of zein porous scaffold by quenching/electrospun fiber reinforcement.

As a novel bone substitute material, zein-based scaffolds (ZS) should have suitable mechanical properties and porosity. ZS has shown good compressive properties matching cancellous bone, but there is still a demand to improve its mechanical properties, especially tensile and bending properties without adding plasticizers. The present study explored two simple and environment-friendly factors for this purpose: fiber reinforcement and quenching.

Effects of the micro/nanostructure of electrospun zein fibres on cells in simulated blood flow environment.

In order to prevent thrombosis, reduce intima hyperplasia, and to maintain long-term patency after implantation of an artificial blood vessel, the formation of intact endothelial cells layer on an inner surface of graft is desirable. The present study aimed to improve endothelial cell adhesion by regulating the morphology of the inner surface of artificial blood vessels. Zein fibre membranes with three fibre diameters (small, ~100 nm; medium, ~500 nm; and large, ~1000 nm) were constructed by electrospinning.

Enhancement of mechanical strength of TCP-alginate based bioprinted constructs.

To overcome the mechanical drawback of bioink, we proposed a supporter model to enhance the mechanical strength of bioprinted 3D constructs, in which a unit-assembly idea was involved. Based on Computed Tomography images of critical-sized rabbit bone defect, the 3D re-construction was accomplished by a sequenced process using Mimics 17.0, BioCAM and BioCAD software.

Formulation of zein based compression coated floating tablets for enhanced gastric retention and tunable drug release.

The present study aimed to investigate the potential of zein (a protein obtained from corn) for development of gastroretentive floating tablets for the first time. A compression coated tablet design with outer floating layer and inner drug containing layer was followed to achieve floating over gastric fluid with sustained release of drug. Captopril was used as a model drug for this purpose.