Nanoparticles from corn protein zein with PEGylation will be evaluated for their cytocompatibility, cell penetration and biodistribution via in vitro and in vivo studies. Nanoparticles are featured for their unique physicochemical properties, which make them promising vehicles for drug delivery. As a plant protein, zein has low risk of zoonotic disease transmission and showed capability to load drug and penetrate cells. PEGylation, which is covalent attachment of poly(ethylene glycol) onto substrates, has been widely accepted as a safe technology to improve biomedical efficacy and physicochemical properties of therapeutic proteins. However, cell penetration, drug loading capacity and biodistribution of PEGylated zein nanoparticles have not been reported. In this research, PEGylation of zein has been verified by NMR, FTIR and HPLC method. Morphologies and size distribution of nanoparticles from PEGylated zein have been analyzed using TEM and light scattering measurement. Cell penetration and cytocompatibility of PEGylated zein nanoparticles have been evaluated via in vitro study. In in vivo study using mouse models, PEGylated zein nanoparticles showed longer resident time in blood stream and different biodistribution profiles comparing to unmodified zein nanoparticles. Effects of particle size and length of poly(ethylene glycol) chains on biodistribution in organs in mice have also been evaluated. PEGylated zein nanoparticles could be prospective candidates for drug delivery vehicles in biomedical applications.

Potential of PEGylated zein nanoparticles for biomedical applications: In vitro and in vivo studies

246th National Meeting (2013)

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