Corn (Zea mays L.) is one of the major food crops, and it is considered to be a very distinctive plant, since it is able to produce a large amount of the natural polymer of starch through its capacity to utilize large amounts of sunlight. Corn starch is used in a wide range of products and applications. In recent years, the use of nanotechnology for applications in the food industry has become more apparent; it has been used for protecting against biological and chemical deterioration, increasing bioavailability, and enhancing physical properties, among other functions. However, the high cost of nanotechnology can make it difficult for its application on a commercial scale. As a biodegradable natural polymer, corn starch is a great alternative for the production of nanomaterials. Therefore, the search for alternative materials to be used in nanotechnology has been studied.
Zea mays
Corn is broadly categorized into six varieties—namely dent corn, flint corn, pod corn, popcorn, flour corn, and sweet corn. The assortment of corn-based human food incorporates grinding the corn into cornmeal or masa, squeezing into corn oil, and obtaining a mixed refreshment beverage such as whiskey bourbon as a result of fermentation, distillation, and chemical feedstock [
Corn is extensively cultivated all over the world, and a large quantity of corn is cultivated every year (
Figure 1). As per the International Grains Council 2013, the total world production was 1.04 billion tons. In America, corn is one of the major grains; the country produced 361 million metric tons of corn in 2014. Over the past few years, corn farmers experienced a stable hike in yearly revenues. In 2016/17, the U.S. delivered more than 33% of the overall corn production.
Figure 1.
In 2016, the United States traded almost 56.5 million metric tons of corn, making the country the world’s greatest corn exporter. Japan and Mexico were the most significant purchasers of U.S. corn in 2015, purchasing around 12.1 million metric tons and 11.31 million metric tons, respectively. Global corn creation measurements in 2019 clarified that the United States was the fundamental maker of corn creation; the amount adding up to about 366.3 million metric tons. China produced 257.3 million metric tons and Brazil produced 94.5 million metric tons, adjusting the top corn delivering nations (
Zhao et al. (2008) declared that corns are rich in dietary fiber, nutritional supplements (vitamins A, B, E, and K), minerals (magnesium, potassium, and phosphorus), phenolic acids and flavonoids, plant sterols, and various phytochemicals (lignins and bound phytochemicals). However, the different assortments of corn have impressively various phytochemical profiles concerning flavonoids and carotenoids. Blue, red, and purple corn have a higher grouping of anthocyanidins (up to 325 mg/100 g DW corn) with cyanidin subsidiaries (75–90%), peonidin derivatives (15–20%), and pelargonidin subordinates (5–10%). Yellow corn is an excellent source of carotenoids (up to 823 g/100 g DW corn) with glutein (half), zeaxanthin (40%), β-cryptoxanthin (3%), β-carotene (4%), and α-carotene (2%). High-amylose corn is rich in amylase (up to 70%, all things considered) [6].
Next to corn grain, sweet corn is utilized as one of the most popular vegetables in North America and China, and its notoriety has expanded across the globe. Sweet corn is one of the top six vegetables utilized in the United States [7]. Canned and solidified sweet corn ranks third, placing it in the middle of vegetables utilized in the United States. [8]. This review discusses the potential of corn starch-based nanomaterial properties, simulations, and their wide range of applications.
Starch is commonly known as amylum, and it is a polymeric carbohydrate consisting of a large number of glucose units connected by glycosidic bonds (
6
10
5)n, and the glucose monomer is called α-D-glycopyranose (or α-D-glycose). In the view of their botanic source, starch crude materials contain different trade factors, sizes, shapes, and concoction content [11].
Figure 2.
In many industries, starch is used as emulsifiers, viscosifiers, defoaming agents for encapsulation, and as sizing agents. In the detergent industries, starch is used in the production of biodegradable, non-toxic, and skin-friendly detergents. In many chemical industries, it is used for the production of surfactants, polyurethanes, resins, and in biodegradable plastics. It is also used in the construction industries for concrete admixtures, plasters, and insulation, as well as in oil drilling, mineral, and metal processing [12]. In food industries, starch is improved into sugars, for instance by malting, and the starch is fermented to form ethanol, which is used in the production of whiskey (by brewing) and biofuel. Inside the pharmaceutical business, starch was used as an excipient, pill crumble, and folio [
Around 80% of the world’s creation of starch is corn starch, which was extracted from corn pieces (content 64–80%) through the wet-processing process [17]. Corn starch is used in a broad variety of foodstuffs and applications. Basic corn starches have a small amount of protein (0.35%), lipid (0.8%), ash, and >98% of two polysaccharides, namely amylose and amylopectin. Starch comes from plant sources that are insoluble in water, and at room temperature, it is in the form of granules [
The unique physiochemical and functional characteristics of natural starches such as their good biocompatibility, biodegradability, non-toxicity, and degradation make them useful for a wide range of biomedical applications (
The unique physiochemical and functional characteristics of natural starches such as their good biocompatibility, biodegradability, non-toxicity, and degradation make them useful for a wide range of biomedical applications (Figure 3). Several biodegradable starch polymers, particularly in the field of bone tissue technique, drug delivery systems, and hydrogels, have been broadly examined during the last few years [20].
). Several biodegradable starch polymers, particularly in the field of bone tissue technique, drug delivery systems, and hydrogels, have been broadly examined during the last few years [129].Figure 3.
Salgado et al. (2005) have shown that the biodegradable bone cements, which are based on starch, can provide a temporary structural base and gradually vanish thereafter. Furthermore, biodegradable polymers based on starch have been reported for bone tissue engineering scaffolding [21]. According to Gomes et al. (2002), an ideal scaffold must be designed on the basis of a biomaterial that has adequate rates of degradation compatible with new tissue formation. Therefore, the choice of starch can be used for scaffolding applications [22]. In drug delivery systems, the further potential attraction of biodegradable polymers based on starch has been reported. The drug administration device of biodegradable starch is effective in deliverability without surgery [23] .The findings of the above studies show that the starch can be used in the medical industry as biomaterials. However, current biodegradable polymers based on starch clearly have lower mechanical characteristics, thus limiting the ability to be utilized in various biomedical applications. Therefore, the production of nanocomposite starch content was initiated to remove biodegradable starch limitations alone [24]. Liu et al. (2016) developed a nanocarrier-based starch nanoparticles in which four polyphenols are inserted: (+) -catechin, (−) -epicatechin, (−) -epigallocatechin-3-gallate, and proanthocyanidin. In addition, the methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay demonstrated low cytotoxicity and good biocompatibility [25].
Salgado et al. (2005) have shown that the biodegradable bone cements, which are based on starch, can provide a temporary structural base and gradually vanish thereafter. Furthermore, biodegradable polymers based on starch have been reported for bone tissue engineering scaffolding [130]. According to Gomes et al. (2002), an ideal scaffold must be designed on the basis of a biomaterial that has adequate rates of degradation compatible with new tissue formation. Therefore, the choice of starch can be used for scaffolding applications [131]. In drug delivery systems, the further potential attraction of biodegradable polymers based on starch has been reported. The drug administration device of biodegradable starch is effective in deliverability without surgery [132]. The findings of the above studies show that the starch can be used in the medical industry as biomaterials. However, current biodegradable polymers based on starch clearly have lower mechanical characteristics, thus limiting the ability to be utilized in various biomedical applications. Therefore, the production of nanocomposite starch content was initiated to remove biodegradable starch limitations alone [133]. Liu et al. (2016) developed a nanocarrier-based starch nanoparticles in which four polyphenols are inserted: (+) -catechin, (−) -epicatechin, (−) -epigallocatechin-3-gallate, and proanthocyanidin. In addition, the methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay demonstrated low cytotoxicity and good biocompatibility [134].Nanoparticles have been an important topic of research in the area of anti-cancer drug delivery. The distribution application of nanoparticles made of biodegradable materials such as polylactic acid, proteins, and polysaccharides has been documented. Polysaccharide systems are becoming increasingly important among all the studies because of their low toxicity, large abundance, and high biocompatibility. However, relatively, very few nanoparticle supply structures dependent on starch are recorded [26]. Continuation of the cell-, tissue-, or disease-specific release of therapeutic nanoparticles is a potentially powerful technology. Xiao et al. (2012) reported a drug known to maintain 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu) antitumor loading and release of the new drug carriers/dialdehyde starch nanoparticles (DASNP). The aldehyde group that significantly enhanced breast cancer cell inhibition (MCF-7) was conjugating 5-Fu, the model medicine, into nanoparticles [27].
Nanoparticles have been an important topic of research in the area of anti-cancer drug delivery. The distribution application of nanoparticles made of biodegradable materials such as polylactic acid, proteins, and polysaccharides has been documented. Polysaccharide systems are becoming increasingly important among all the studies because of their low toxicity, large abundance, and high biocompatibility. However, relatively, very few nanoparticle supply structures dependent on starch are recorded [135]. Continuation of the cell-, tissue-, or disease-specific release of therapeutic nanoparticles is a potentially powerful technology. Xiao et al. (2012) reported a drug known to maintain 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu) antitumor loading and release of the new drug carriers/dialdehyde starch nanoparticles (DASNP). The aldehyde group that significantly enhanced breast cancer cell inhibition (MCF-7) was conjugating 5-Fu, the model medicine, into nanoparticles [136].