Department of Chemical Engineering, Federal University of Ceará, Brazil.
Department of Food Engineering, Federal University of Ceará, Brazil.
Int J Biol Macromol. 2024 Oct;278(Pt 1):133672. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.133672. Epub 2024 Jul 5.
Bioemulsifiers are compounds produced by microorganisms that reduce the interfacial forces between hydrophobic substances and water. Due to their potential in the pharmaceutical and food industries and their efficiency in oil spill remediation, they have been the subject of study in the scientific community while being safe, biodegradable, and sustainable compared to synthetic options. These biomolecules have high molecular weight and polymeric structures, distinguishing them from traditional biosurfactants. Emulsan, a bioemulsifier exopolysaccharide, is produced by Acinetobacter strains and is highly efficient in forming stable emulsions. Its low toxicity and high potential as an emulsifying agent promote its application in pharmaceutical and food industries as a drug-delivery vehicle and emulsion stabilizer. Due to the high environmental impact of oil spills, bioemulsifiers have great potential for environmental applications, such as bioremediation. This unique feature gives them a distinct mechanism of action in forming emulsions, resulting in minimal environmental impact. A better understanding of these aspects can improve the use of bioemulsifiers and environmental remediation in various industries. This review will discuss the production and characterization of Emulsan, focusing on recent advancements in cultivation conditions, purification techniques, compound identification, and ecotoxicity.
生物乳化剂是微生物产生的化合物，可降低疏水性物质与水之间的界面力。由于它们在制药和食品工业中的潜在应用以及在溢油修复方面的效率，与合成选项相比，它们安全、可生物降解且可持续，因此成为科学界的研究对象。这些生物分子具有高分子量和聚合结构，与传统的生物表面活性剂不同。生物乳化剂胞外多糖乳化素由不动杆菌属菌株产生，可高效形成稳定的乳液。其低毒性和作为乳化剂的高潜力促进了其在制药和食品工业中的应用，可用作药物递送载体和乳液稳定剂。由于溢油对环境的影响很大，生物乳化剂在环境应用方面具有很大的潜力，例如生物修复。这一独特的特性使它们在形成乳液方面具有独特的作用机制，对环境的影响最小。更好地了解这些方面可以提高生物乳化剂在各个行业中的使用和环境修复效果。本文将讨论乳化素的生产和特性，重点介绍培养条件、纯化技术、化合物鉴定和生态毒性方面的最新进展。
