Development of zein-based nutraceutical delivery systems: A systematic overview based on recent researches

In recent years, zein has been widely used to construct diverse delivery systems due to the unique self-assembly properties, and its function tunability endows it with a broader scope for development. This review aims to provide an overview of recent advances in zein-based delivery systems, which includes discussions on the essential characteristics of zein with regard to designing delivery systems. Based on the latest researches, strategies to improve the performance of zein assemblies and different types of zein-based delivery systems are introduced systematically. Research trends and industrialization-related industrialization are analyzed as well. Studies have shown that the physicochemical properties of zein are closely bound up with the molecular structure. Hence, the hydrophilicity of zein can be ameliorated by structural modification or non-covalent binding with other biopolymers, thereby fabricating more stable and versatile zein-based delivery systems. Such delivery systems mainly include nanoparticles, nanofiber films, nanoemulsions, microparticles, microcapsules, Pickering emulsions, oleogels and multilayer emulsions. From the perspective of delivery efficiency, zein hollow particles, zein peptides-based delivery vehicles and co-delivery are the trends of future development. To further advance the industrialization of zein-based delivery systems, it is necessary to consider the production cost and safety issues, alongside conducting shelf-life tests and animal experiments. Additionally, more efforts are required in the personalized design to meet consumer preferences.