polymers Review A Comprehensive Review on Corn Starch-Based Nanomaterials: Properties, Simulations, and Applications Chella Perumal Palanisamy 1 , Bo Cui 1,*, Hongxia Zhang 1, Selvaraj Jayaraman 2 and Gothandam Kodiveri Muthukaliannan 3 1 State Key Laboratory of Biobased Material and Green Papermaking, College of Food Science and Engineering, Qilu University of Technology, Shandong Academy of Science, Jinan 250353, China; [email protected] (C.P.P.); [email protected] (H.Z.) 2 Department of Biochemistry, Saveetha University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600077, India; [email protected] 3 Department of Biotechnology, School of Bio Sciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu 632014, India; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +86-186-60811718 Received: 16 August 2020; Accepted: 11 September 2020; Published: 22 September 2020 Abstract: 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. This review has discussed in detail the properties, simulations, and wide range of applications of corn starch-based nanomaterials. Keywords: corn starch; nanomaterials; corn starch materials; instrumental methods; biomedical applications 1. Introduction Zea mays L. is a member of Poaceae family that is generally called corn and maize. It has been developed as a staple food in several region of the globe [1]. Hitchcock and Chase in 1971 explained the botanical features of corn [2]. A heavy, vertical, solid stem and large, thin leaves form a tall annual grass. The female inflorescences (pistillate) that develop to be the torn ears are spikes with a consolidated hub, bearing matched spikelets in longitudinal columns; each line of combined spikelets as a rule makes two lines of grain. The yellow and white corn assortments are the most famous as food, although red, blue, pink, and dark piece assortments are regularly grouped, spotted, or stripped. Every ear is enclosed by customized leaves called shucks or husks [3]. Mangelsdorf (1950) reported that the corn initially originated from America, and it was originally revealed by Christopher Columbus in 1492. It is one of the main food sources worldwide. In the 1600s and 1700s, the Americans used corn as their staple food, and in the 1800s, corn turned out to be one of the important commercial crops [4]. 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 Polymers 2020, 12, 2161; doi:10.3390/polym12092161 www.mdpi.com/journal/polymers Polymers 2020, 12, x FOR PEER REVIEW 2 of 25 Polymers 2020, 12, 2161 2 of 27 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 intointo cornmeal cornmeal or or masa, masa, squeezing squeezing intointo corncorn oil,oil, andand obtainingobtaining aa mixedmixed refreshmentrefreshment beverage beverage such such as as whiskeywhiskey bourbon bourbon as as a a result result of of fermentation, fermentation, distillation, distillation, and and chemical chemical feedstock feedstock [ 5[5].]. CornCorn isis extensivelyextensively cultivatedcultivated allall overover thethe world,world, andand aa largelarge quantityquantity ofof corncorn isis cultivatedcultivated everyevery yearyear (Figure (Figure1). 1). As As per per the the International International Grains Grains Council Council 2013, 2013, the total the world total world production production was 1.04 was billion 1.04 tons.billion In tons. America, In America, corn is one corn of theis one major of grains;the majo ther grains; country the produced country 361 produced million metric361 million tons of metric corn intons 2014. of Overcorn thein 2014. past few Over years, the cornpast farmers few years, experienced corn farmers a stable experienced hike in yearly a stable revenues. hike In in 2016 yearly/17, therevenues. U.S. delivered In 2016/17, more the than U.S. 33% delivered of the overallmore than corn 33% production. of the overall corn production. FigureFigure 1. 1.Corn Corn productionproduction worldwide.worldwide. InIn 2016,2016, thethe United States States traded traded almost almost 56.5 56.5 million million metric metric tons tons of ofcorn, corn, making making the the country country the theworld’s world’s greatest greatest corn corn exporter. exporter. Japan Japan and andMexico Mexico were were the most the most significant significant purchasers purchasers of U.S. of U.S.corn cornin 2015, in 2015, purchasing purchasing around around 12.1 12.1 million million metric metric tons tons and and 11.31 11.31 million million metric metric tons, respectively. GlobalGlobal corncorn creationcreation measurementsmeasurements inin 20192019 clarifiedclarified thatthat thethe UnitedUnited StatesStates waswas thethe fundamentalfundamental makermaker ofof corncorn creation;creation; thethe amountamount addingadding upup to to about about 366.3 366.3 million million metric metric tons. tons. ChinaChina producedproduced 257.3257.3 million million metric metric tons tons and and Brazil Brazil produced produced 94.5 million 94.5 million metric tons,metric adjusting tons, adjusting the top corn the delivering top corn nationsdelivering (www.statista.com nations (www.statista.com).). ZhaoZhao et al. al. (2008) (2008) declared declared that thatcorns corns are rich are in rich dietary in dietaryfiber, nutritional fiber, nutritional supplements supplements (vitamins (vitaminsA, B, E, and A, B,K), E, minerals and K), (magnesium, minerals (magnesium, potassium, potassium, and phosphorus), and phosphorus), phenolic acids phenolic and flavonoids, acids and flavonoids,plant sterols, plant and sterols, various and variousphytochemicals phytochemicals (lignins (lignins and bound and bound phytochemicals). phytochemicals). However, However, the thedifferent different assortments assortments of ofcorn corn have have impressively impressively various various phytochemicalphytochemical profilesprofiles concerningconcerning flavonoidsflavonoids andand carotenoids.carotenoids. Blue,Blue, red,red, andand purplepurple corncorn havehave aa higherhigher groupinggrouping ofof anthocyanidinsanthocyanidins (up(up toto 325 325 mg mg/100/100 g g DW DW corn) corn) with with cyanidin cyanidin subsidiaries subsidiaries(75–90%), (75–90%), peonidinpeonidin derivativesderivatives (15–20%),(15–20%), andand pelargonidinpelargonidin subordinates (5–10%). (5–10%). Yellow Yellow corn corn is isan an excellent excellent source source of ofcarotenoids carotenoids (up (up to 823 to β β 823g/100 g/100 g DW g DW corn) corn) with with glutein glutein (half), (half), zeaxanthin zeaxanthin (40%), (40%), β-cryptoxanthin-cryptoxanthin (3%), (3%), β-carotene-carotene (4%), (4%), and α andα-carotene-carotene (2%). (2%). High-amylose High-amylose corn corn is rich is richin amylase in amylase (up (upto 70%, to 70%, all things all things considered) considered) [6]. [6]. Polymers 2020, 12, x FOR PEER REVIEW 3 of 25 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 utilizedPolymers 2020in ,the12, 2161 United States [7]. Canned and solidified sweet corn ranks third,3 of 27 placing it in the middle of vegetables utilized in the United States. [8]. This review discusses the potential of corn starch-basedNext nanomaterial to corn grain, sweetproperties, corn is utilized simulations, as one of the and most their popular wide vegetables range inof North applications. 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 2. Starch 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 glucose2. Starch units connected by glycosidic bonds (Figure 2). It is recognized as a carbohydrate in human diets. ItStarch occurs is commonly in many known staple as amylum, foods such and it isas a polymericpotatoes, carbohydrate wheat, corn, consisting rice, ofand a large cassava [9]. Pure starch extractednumber of from glucose plants units connected was converted by glycosidic in bondsto flour-like (Figure2). white It is recognized powder, as a which carbohydrate is insoluble in in human diets. It occurs in