Abstract: Zein is the major storage protein of corn. It is widely applied in the food, pharmaceutical, and biotechnological fields due to its good film-forming properties, unique solubility, and self-assembly characteristics. Based on the solubility and self-assembly characteristics of zein in different solvent systems, various methods have been developed to prepare zein particles with core-shell structures, which can serve as carriers for the delivery bioactive substances, emulsion stabilizers, and nanofiber materials. This review summarizes the existing preparation methods and functional characteristics of zein core-shell particles. It is expected that this review can provide a theoretical foundation and practical guidance for the preparation and application of zein core-shell microparticles in the field of food science.

Key words: zein; core-shell particles; preparation methods; functional characteristics