Abstract
Zein, a major protein of corn, is soluble in binary mixtures of ethanol and water. It has an amphiphilic character and is capable of self-assembly into nano- and microsized rods, spheres, and films upon solvent evaporation. The formation of microspheres is of particular interest for the development of delivery systems. Control over structure formation requires a better understanding of zein behavior in solution. The objective of this work was to investigate the effect of zein concentration and the effect of ethanol-water ratio on the microphase behavior of zein solutions, believed to govern the morphology of microstructures after solvent evaporation. The Flory-Huggins solution theory was applied to model boundary lines between microphases in solution. The study generated information on the zein concentration-ethanol/ water ratio conditions where microspheres are formed and provided insight into the microphase behavior of zein ethanolic solutions.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 12897-12901 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Langmuir |
| Volume | 26 |
| Issue number | 15 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 3 Aug 2010 |
| Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Materials Science
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Surfaces and Interfaces
- Spectroscopy
- Electrochemistry