Advances in bacterial exopolysaccharides: from production to biotechnological applications

• Published in: Trends in biotechnology (Regular ed.) Vol. 29; no. 8; pp. 388 - 398
• Main Authors: Freitas, Filomena, Alves, Vitor D., Reis, Maria A.M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, MA Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2011; Cell Press; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Algae; Aqueous solutions; Bacteria; Bacteriology; Biological activity; Biological and medical sciences; Biopolymers; Bioreactors; Biosynthesis; Biotechnology; Biotechnology - methods; Cellulose; chemical structure; commercialization; exopolysaccharides; Extracellular Space - metabolism; Fermentation; Food; functional properties; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Glucose; Industrial Microbiology - methods; Internal Medicine; Medicine; Molecular weight; Pharmaceutical industry; Polymerization; Polymers; Polysaccharides; Polysaccharides, Bacterial - biosynthesis; Polysaccharides, Bacterial - chemistry; Production costs; properties; Saccharides; Biotechnology; Purification; Production; Bacteria; Biosynthesis; Review; Application; Extracellular; Polysaccharide; Physicochemical properties
• ISSN: 0167-7799; 1879-3096; 1879-3096
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2011.03.008

A vast number of bacterial extracellular polysaccharides (EPSs) have been reported over recent decades, and their composition, structure, biosynthesis and functional properties have been extensively studied. Despite the great diversity of molecular structures already described for bacterial EPSs, only a few have been industrially developed. The main constraints to full commercialization are their production costs, mostly related to substrate cost and downstream processing. In this article, we review EPS biosynthetic and fermentative processes, along with current downstream strategies. Limitations and constraints of bacterial EPS development are stressed and correlation of bacterial EPS properties with polymer applications is emphasized.