Title: Protein and polysaccharide conjugates as emerging scaffolds for drug delivery systems

Authors: Amy Y. Xu; Laurence D. Melton; Martin A.K. Williams; Duncan J. McGillivray

Addresses: School of Chemical Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand; Riddet Institute Centre of Research Excellence, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North, 4442, New Zealand ' School of Chemical Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand; Riddet Institute Centre of Research Excellence, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North, 4442, New Zealand ' Riddet Institute Centre of Research Excellence, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North, 4442, New Zealand; The MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, P.O. Box 600, Wellington, 6140, New Zealand; Institute of Fundamental Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North, 4442, New Zealand ' School of Chemical Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand; The MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, P.O. Box 600, Wellington, 6140, New Zealand

Abstract: Protein and polysaccharide conjugates are ideal for developing coatings for medical scaffolds and drug delivery systems owing to their high biocompatibility and biodegradability. In this study, we are conjugating a hydrophobic protein zein with a hydrophilic polysaccharide, pectin. A specific covalent linkage is introduced between the reducing end of pectin and the amine groups of zein that are surface accessible. After successful coupling of pectin to zein, the conjugate is water-soluble. A film was prepared with the zein-pectin conjugates on a hydrophilic silica surface. SEM shows that the film is mainly composed of zein nanoparticles coated with pectin, and these nanoparticles arrange themselves into individual arrays that are separated by several wide channels. Films with such nanostructures can be exploited for developing bioactive coatings.

Keywords: hydrophobic protein; hydrophilic polysaccharide; conjugates; nanomaterials; nanotechnology; medical scaffolds; drug delivery systems; biocompatibility; biodegradability; hydrophilic silica surfaces; zein nanoparticles; pectin coating; bioactive coatings.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNT.2017.082468

International Journal of Nanotechnology, 2017 Vol.14 No.1/2/3/4/5/6, pp.470 - 480

Published online: 24 Feb 2017 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article