pullulán

Pullulan is a polysaccharide produced by the yeast Aureobasidium pullulans. It is a linear glucan consisting of alpha-1,6-linked maltotriose units, with occasional alpha-1,4 linkages. This unique structure gives pullulan several important properties, including film-forming ability, high water solubility, and low viscosity.

The production of pullulan typically involves submerged fermentation of A. pullulans using a carbohydrate source, such as glucose or sucrose. The fermentation conditions, including temperature, pH, and nutrient availability, are carefully controlled to optimize pullulan yield and molecular weight. After fermentation, pullulan is extracted and purified through various methods like precipitation, filtration, and drying.

Pullulan finds widespread applications due to its versatile characteristics. It is commonly used as a food additive, acting as a binder, thickener, and emulsifier. Its excellent film-forming properties make it suitable for edible coatings on fruits, vegetables, and confectioneries, extending shelf life and improving appearance. In the pharmaceutical industry, pullulan is utilized as a binder in tablets, a disintegrant, and a capsule material, particularly for soft gelatin capsules. Its biocompatibility and biodegradability also make it a promising material for biomedical applications, such as drug delivery systems and tissue engineering scaffolds. Furthermore, pullulan's stability and resistance to degradation make it valuable in cosmetic formulations.