02378naa a2200277 a 450000100080000000500110000800800410001902400520006010000190011224500990013126000090023030000100023952016210024965300120187065300170188265300130189970000180191270000180193070000240194870000200197270000190199270000170201170000160202870000180204477300380206221790832025-09-24       2025    bl uuuu     u00u1 u    #d7 ahttps://doi.org/10.1007/s12668-025-02127-72DOI1 aSCRAMIN, J. A.  aIn Vivo Toxicity of Kafirin-Based Coatings with Chitosan Nanoparticles.h[electronic resource]  c2025  a11 p.  aThe global demand for fresh, healthy agricultural products calls for effective methods to extend shelf life, such as edible coatings. Kafirin, a hydrophobic prolamin from sorghum, can be extracted as a byproduct of ethanol production from sweet sorghum grains. Its barrier effect properties can be enhanced with chitosan nanoparticles (CSNP), which offer antimicrobial and antioxidant effects. However, the formulation, characterization, and in vivo safety of kafirin-CSNP coatings remain underexplored. This study presents the formulation and characterization of a kafirin-CSNP coating, followed by a 5-week safety evaluation in male Wistar rats. Animals were randomly assigned to receive either uncoated bran-based feed (control group) or bran feed coated with the kafirin-CSNP dispersion (experimental group). The process yielded stable nanoparticles with a high zeta potential (77 mV), suggesting good antimicrobial potential. In vivo analyses revealed no significant differences between groups in organ and bone mass, blood biochemical markers, bone quality (densitometry and microtomography), feed intake, or feces excretion. Significant differences were observed in water intake (lower in the experimental group for 3 weeks), creatinine levels (lower in the experimental group), and body weight (lower throughout the study), the latter possibly due to a mild anti-obesity effect of CSNP. These findings support the physiological safety of kafirin-CSNP coatings in an animal model and highlight their potential for future applications in edible coatings for agricultural products intended for human consumption  aKafirin  aNanoparticle  aProlamin1 aCORREA, T. A.1 aNONAKA, K. O.1 aBERNARDES FILHO, R.1 aFERREIRA, E. J.1 aLAROCCA, N. M.1 aBIFFE, B. G.1 aWANG, C. C.1 aFORATO, L. A.  tBioNanoSciencegv. 15, 499, 2025.