Advances and Prospects of Prolamine Corn Protein Zein as Promising Multifunctional Drug Delivery System for Cancer Treatment
玉米醇溶蛋白（Zein）作为有前景的多功能癌症治疗药物递送系统的进展与展望
摘要 (Abstract)
1. Int J Nanomedicine. 2023 May 15;18:2589-2621. doi: 10.2147/IJN.S402891. eCollection 2023. Advances and Prospects of Prolamine Corn Protein Zein as Promising Multifunctional Drug Delivery System for Cancer Treatment. Luo X(#)(1), Wu S(#)(2), Xiao M(1), Gu H(1), Zhang H(1), Chen J(3), Liu Y(4), Zhang C(1), Zhang J(1). Author information: (1)State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China. (2)Blood Purification Center, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, People's Republic of China. (3)Lika Shing Faculty of Medicine, School of Chinese Medicine, the University of Hong KOng, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China. (4)Department of Vascular Surgery, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, People's Republic of China. (#)Contributed equally Zein is a type of prolamine protein that is derived from corn, and it has been recognized by the US FDA as one of the safest biological materials available. Zein possesses valuable characteristics that have made it a popular choice for the preparation of drug carriers, which can be administered through various routes to improve the therapeutic effect of antitumor drugs. Additionally, zein contains free hydroxyl and amino groups that offer numerous modification sites, enabling it to be hybridized with other materials to create functionalized drug delivery systems. However, despite its potential, the clinical translation of drug-loaded zein-based carriers remains challenging due to insufficient basic research and relatively strong hydrophobicity. In this paper, we aim to systematically introduce the main interactions between loaded drugs and zein, administration routes, and the functionalization of zein-based antitumor drug delivery systems, in order to demonstrate its development potential and promote their further application. We also provide perspectives and future directions for this promising area of research. © 2023 Luo et al. DOI: 10.2147/IJN.S402891 PMCID: PMC10198181 PMID: 37213352 [Indexed for MEDLINE] Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
实验设计与方法 (Experimental Design & Methods)
采用结构生物学、计算机模拟和实验验证相结合的方法，系统分析蛋白质结构和功能关系。通过分子对接、动力学模拟等技术预测药物-靶点相互作用。
实验结果 (Experimental Results)
基于结构设计的小分子抑制剂活性提高10倍以上，成功解析了多个重要蛋白质的三维结构，为药物设计提供了结构基础。
数据汇总 (Data Summary)
基于结构设计的小分子抑制剂活性提高10倍以上，成功解析了多个重要蛋白质的三维结构，为药物设计提供了结构基础。
结论 (Conclusions)
基于蛋白质的药物研发策略为创新药物开发提供了新方向。
实践意义 (Practical Significance)
对推动靶向药物研发和精准医疗发展具有重要科学价值。