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Microbial pullulan for food, biomedicine, cosmetic, and water treatment: a review
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Pullulan biopolymer as a biodegradable alternative to microplastic-generating synthetic packaging.
Most fossil fuel-derived polymers used for food packaging are non-biodegradable and induce pollution by microplastic, calling for safer material. Here we review microbial production and applications of pullulan, a unique biopolymer produced by fermentation of agro-residues, using a strain named Aureobasidium pullulan. Chemically modified pullulan is widely used in food, pharmaceuticals, biomedical, and cosmetics. Compared to conventional polymers, pullulan increases the tensile strength 6–37-folds and increases the bioadhesion time 72–120-folds. Pullulan has been recently produced from agro-based waste with yields as high as 58-69 g/L.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.