Proof of concept for the production of bacterial cellulose loading a natural peptide with superior antimicrobial and antioxidant performance

• Grant number: 21/04720-4
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Start date: September 01, 2021
• End date: May 31, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Angela Faustino Jozala
• Grantee: Angela Faustino Jozala
• Company: Angela Faustino Jozala
• CNAE: Fabricação de produtos alimentícios não especificados anteriormente ; Fabricação de produtos farmoquímicos ; Pesquisa e desenvolvimento experimental em ciências físicas e naturais
• City: Sorocaba
• Pesquisadores principais: Denise Grotto
• Associated research grant(s): 23/01989-8 - A new generation natural ingredient with preservative and antioxidant capacity: development and application in baking and other food matrices, AP.PIPE
• Associated scholarship(s): 22/02010-2 - Nisin production and evaluation of incorporation efficiency, dose uniformity, and incorporated concentration in bacterial cellulose by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)., BP.TT; 21/12320-6 - Production of bacterial cellulose (BacCel) and antimicrobial evaluation of the finished product, BP.TT; 21/10103-8 - Nisin production and evaluation of incorporation efficiency, dose uniformity, and incorporated concentration in bacterial cellulose by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)., BP.TT

Abstract

Bacterial cellulose is a linear polymer of glucose synthesized by the bacterium Gluconacetobacter xylinus, which has been widely used in the mobilization of biomolecules and as drug delivery system. Bacterial cellulose has excellent tensile strength, biodegradability, high water retention and absorption capacity, and it is non-toxic and non-allergenic. These properties can significantly increase the stability and substantivity of bioactives, including antimicrobials. Resistance to conventional antimicrobials has stirred interest in alternatives, such as the use of antimicrobial peptides produced from bacteria. In this way, we have nisin, which is produced by Lactococcus lactis, and approved for use in several countries as a preservative in food. Thus, combining the characteristics of bacterial cellulose with those of nisin is a promising concept. Considering food, the search for improving eating habits, well-being and sustainability is well known. According to Euromonitor International, during the pandemic there was an annual expansion of 1.8% in the healthy food market - those containing words like "free from" on the clean label - compared to 1.5% of the traditional one, containing preservatives and similar chemicals. In the Brazilian market, some companies are creating product diversification strategies, changing constituents and ingredients to achieve the clean label concept. Our research group, through scientific-technological work, has demonstrated the positive feasibility of adding bacterial cellulose to nisin. Therefore, based on the incentive of demands that generate innovation and improvements in products and processes that already exist, the main objective of this project will be to carry out the proof of concept of the product BacCel_Nisin as a matrix able of enhancing the antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of nisin, which may arouse great interest from industries that depend on this input in their production chain, especially the food industry. The proof of concept will confirm the required characteristics for the market demand. BacCel_Nisin will add gain in productivity for the industry, while minimizing costs, and it will have the innovation potential for expansion, through the creation of new products that can be developed from this. In marketing terms, the project hopes to deliver a potentiated material to the consumer, who, instead of buying 10 kg of nisin, will be able to buy 1 kg of BacCel_Nisin with the same capacity of antibacterial / preservative effect found today. The BacCel_Nisin consumer will experience gains in productivity and scale, with a consequent reduction in production, inventory, transportation costs, among others. (AU)