Microbial biosynthesis of polyglutamic acid biopolymer and applications in the biopharmaceutical, biomedical and food industries

Crit Rev Biotechnol. 2007 Jan-Mar;27(1):1-19. doi: 10.1080/07388550601166458.

Abstract

This review article provides an updated critical literature review on the production and applications of Polyglutamic Acid (PGA). alpha-PGA is synthesized chemically, whereas gamma-PGA can be produced by a number of microbial species, most prominently various Bacilli. Great insight into the microbial formation of gamma-PGA has been gained thanks to the development of molecular biological techniques. Moreover, there is a great variety of applications for both isoforms of PGA, many of which have not been discovered until recently. These applications include: wastewater treatment, food products, drug delivery, medical adhesives, vaccines, PGA nanoparticles for on-site drug release in cancer chemotherapy, and tissue engineering.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Bacillaceae / genetics
  • Bacillaceae / metabolism
  • Biomedical Technology*
  • Biopolymers / biosynthesis
  • Biopolymers / chemistry
  • Biopolymers / genetics
  • Drug Carriers
  • Drug Industry*
  • Food Industry*
  • Food Technology*
  • Forecasting
  • Genes, Bacterial
  • Models, Biological
  • Molecular Structure
  • Nanoparticles
  • Particle Size
  • Polyglutamic Acid / biosynthesis*
  • Polyglutamic Acid / chemistry
  • Polyglutamic Acid / genetics
  • Polyglutamic Acid / pharmacology
  • Stereoisomerism

Substances

  • Biopolymers
  • Drug Carriers
  • Polyglutamic Acid