PROSPECTS OF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION OF CHITIN-GLUCAN COMPLEXES FROM FUNGAL CULTURES

Abstract

The paper is devoted to the problem of producing chitin-glucan complexes (CGC) as an alternative to chitin and chitosan. These biopolymers are present in arthropod exoskeletons and other skeletal elements, as well as in fungi and algae cell walls. Chitin-glucan complexes are widely used as sorbents, fillers, and agents for enzyme immobilization in a range of fields including medicine, biotechnology, food industry (particularly in brewing to remove sediment), cosmetology, agriculture, and manufacturing. Due to their fungicidal and antibacterial properties, these biopolymers are used as plant protection products and as biofertilizers. They also have a lot of potential for regenerative medicine and tissue therapy because of their biocompatibility and non-toxicity. The paper considers the main methods for isolation of chitin-glucan complexes and features of commercial production of chitin-[A2] gluconate complexes from fungal cultures, with a focus on the mild alkaline process and the use of an enzymatic treatment to improve production and obtain a product with a stable degree of deacetylation. Also, the paper discusses potential producers and optimal cultivation conditions for obtaining the maximum amount of biomass, which is directly proportional to the amount of biomass produced and is dependent on strain, cultivation, and isolation process conditions. The cost of these polymers largely depends on the cost and availability of raw materials, so chitosan and chitin derived from fungal cultures are more environmentally friendly and relatively inexpensive, owing to their ability to be cultivated in industrial waste, lack of seasonality, and availability of producers.