Use of coconut coir fibers as an inert solid support for production of cyclosporin A

Abstract

In the present study, coconut coir was evaluated as an inert support for the production of cyclosporin A (CyA) using Tolypocladium inflatum MTCC 557 by solid state fermentation. Initially, four different inert supports such as coconut coir, polyurethane foam, polystyrene beads, and sugarcane baggase were screened using different production media as moistening agents for the maximum production of CyA. Different parameters such as fermentation time, carbon sources, moisture content, pH, and inoculum size were optimized. It was observed that coconut coir impregnated with medium modified with glycerol as carbon source, pH 6, at 80% moisture content, and inoculum size of 2.5 mL/2.5 g support produced 2641 mg/kg of CyA after 12 days as compared to 998 mg/kg before optimization. The yields were further increased to 3597 mg/kg substrate with addition of combination of amino acids after 48 h of fermentation.