Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
static, immunoproliferative, antiviral and wound healing properties find
various therapeutic applications in human health and medicine [15-18].
A few EPS are also used for tissue engineering applications as they can
form three-dimensional structures with uniform pore size [19]. The anti-
aging, moisturizing and skin protection abilities of the EPS find use in
cosmeceutics [20]. High viscosifying, emulsifying and gelling activities
find applications in the food industrial sector and drug delivery systems
[21-23]. Some EPS are also identified for heavy metal sequestration [24],
surfactant like properties [25], which could possibly be employed for bio-
remediation and detoxification. Such versatile application demonstrated
by EPS is due to the structural diversity of EPS, which is genetically con-
trolled and specific to the species of bacteria producing it. Many types of
EPS with structural diversity have been isolated and are well documented
in the literature. However, only a few have been commercialized with rel-
evant industrial and therapeutic applications (Table 8.1).
TABLE 8.1
Representative Strains of the Bacteria Producing Important EPS, Chemical
Composition of the EPS and its Therapeutic Application
Bacteria
EPS and its chemical composition
Application
Gluconacetobacter xy-
linus
[26]
Cellulose
Linear homopolymer of β-1, 4 D-glu-
cose.
Wound healing [27].
Leuconostoc
mesen-
Dextran
Branched homopolymer of glucose
linked by linear α-1,6 glycosidic bond
and branched α-1, 3 linkage.
Drug delivery [29].
teroides
[28]
Sphingomonas elodea
[30]
Gellan
Linear anionic heteropolymer of D-
glucuronic acid, L-rhamnose and two
molecules of D-glucose.
Intervertebral disc re-
generation [31].
Alcaligenes fecalis
[32]
Curdlan
Linear homopolysaccharide of β-1,3-
linked glucose.
Drug delivery [33].
Azotobacter vinelandii
[34]
Alginate
Linear heteropolymer of β-1-4-D-
mannuronic acid and
α
-L-guluronic
acid.
Wound dressing [35].
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