Table 2 Microbial biopolymers and their applications
From: Biobased polymers of plant and microbial origin and their applications - a review
Biopolymers | Microorganisms | Polymer Composition | Polymer Properties | Applications | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pullulan | Aureobasidium pullulans; Tremella mesenterica, Cryphonectria parasitica, Teloschistes flavicans, Rhodototula bacarum, Cytaria harioti, C. darwinii | Maltotriose repeating units with α-(1 → 4) and α-(1 → 6) glycosidic bonds | Water-soluble, non-toxic, non-mutagenic, excellent film-forming and adhesive properties, biodegradable | Food industry: Preservative; prebiotic for bifidobacteria; low viscosity filler in sauces and beverages; stabilizer and binder in food pastes; films for packaging dry fruits; edible film in mouth fresheners and oral hygiene products Cosmetics: Additive and thickener; Pharmaceuticals: adhesive; coating; films in oral care products; blood plasma expander | |
Levan | Bacillus subtilis, B. amyloliquefaciens, Corynebacterium, Erwiniaherbicola, Mycobacterium, Paenibacillus, Streptococcus, Acetobacter, Zymomonasmobilis, Pseudomonas and Aerobacter | A homopolymer composed primarily of β-(2,6)-linked fructose units, with a glucose residue at the end | Water-soluble, biodegradable, non-toxic, exhibits excellent emulsifying and thickening properties | Food industry: Emulsifier; stabilizer; thickener; sweetener; source of fructooligosaccharides; prebiotic for Megasphaera and Megamonas; component of edible films; increases short-chain fatty acid levels with biocontrol properties Cosmetics: Cosmeceutical and skin-regenerating preparations; inhibits tyrosinase leading to decreased melanin production Pharmaceuticals: carrier; stabilizer; healing of burns; local skin antifungal therapy with amphotericin B; preparation of hydrogels for wound healing | Srikanth et al. 2015 [119]; Zhang et al. 2019 [132]; Cheng et al. 2021 [23]; Domżał-Kędzia et al. 2023 [31] |
Bacterial cellulose | Agrobacterium, Aerobacter, Achromobacter, Alcaligenes, Azotobacter, Cluconacetobacter, Komagataeibacter, Pseudomonas, Dickeya, Rhizobium, Rhodobacter and Sarcina | Composed of β-1,4-linked glucose units, similar to plant cellulose but with higher purity and crystallinity | Biodegradable, biocompatible, high tensile strength, water-holding capacity, and porosity | Food industry: thickener; suspension agent; used in traditional dessert, vegetarian meat, low cholesterol diet, food/beverage additives, and food packaging Personal Care products: face masks Biomedical Area: wound dressing in treating various ulcers, abrasions, burns, skin grafts, post-operative surgical wounds, and lacerations; dental implant; artificial skin, drug delivery, vascular grafts; biosensor | Senni et al. 2011 [112]; Portela et al. 2019 [94]; Zhong 2020 [134] |
Curdlan | Bacillus, Rhizobium, Agrobacterium, Alcaligenes, Cellulomonas | Composed of a homopolymer of D-glucose linked with β-(1,3)-glucan | Water-insoluble, thermally stable, forms elastic gels upon heating in aqueous suspension | Food Industry: Stabilizer, gelling, thickener and texture modifier in noodles, patties, sausages, gravies etc.; food packaging; antioxidant; used in low caloric food due to no caloric value Pharmaceutical and biomedical industry: antitumor and antimicrobial; triggers phagocytosis; encapsulation of drugs; drug delivery system | Lee et al. 1999 [56]; Mohsin et al. 2020 [73]; Aquinas et al. 2022 [11] |
Xanthan Gum | Xanthomonas campestris | Composed of β-1,4-linked glucose units, similar to plant cellulose but with higher purity and crystallinity | Biodegradable, biocompatible, high tensile strength, water-holding capacity, and porosity | Food Industry: used in puddings, yoghurts and jellies due to its gelling property Pharmaceutical Industry: used in toothpastes, ointments and as auxiliary substance in tablets Soil Properties: reduces permeability, increase density and enhances mechanical properties of soil | Prakash et al. 2013 [95]; Ayeldeen et al. 2016 [13]; Lee et al. 2017 [57] |
Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) | Ralstonia eutropha, Bacillus megaterium, Pseudomonas putida, Halomonas alkaliantarctica | Composed of hydroxyalkanoic acid monomers linked by ester bonds | Biodegradable, biocompatible, thermoplastic, piezoelectric, pyroelectric, and ferroelectric properties | Biomedical Industry: preparation of biodegradable films and containers, post-operative adhesions and as sutures Agriculture: encapsulations of biofertilizers Biomedical Industry: used in biodegradable products | Aggarwal et al. 2020 [7]; Sikkema et al. 2023 [114]; Mozejko-Ciesielska et al. 2023 [76] |