Recent Advances in Microbial Polymers and Pigments
A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Materials Chemistry".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2023) | Viewed by 11997
Special Issue Editors
Interests: polyhydroxyalkanoate; astaxanthin; biofuels; microbiology; biofilm
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: polyhydroxyalkanoate; bioprocess engineering; algal biomass valorization; biopolyesters
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: biopolymers; polyhydroxyalkanoates; mixed cultures; waste/by-products valorisation; microbial ecology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Microbes are ubiquitous and perform a plethora of unique functions that often remain unnoticed until discovered. A variety of microbial products have been utilized by humans for several centuries; some of these products became evident during the Industrial Revolution, and efforts are underway to gain a further hold on such bioproducts and produce them in an economical manner at large-scale. Biopolymers, particularly bacterial cellulose, polyhydroxyalkanoates, xanthan, dextran, alginates, etc., are potential products required for industrial applications. Similarly, fungi, bacteria, algae and some protists are known to produce pigments (few are secretory). However, most of these products are quite challenging to produce at large scale, though attempts are being made to identify unique microbes or engineer them for the economical production of these bio-products. With a greater focus on bio-based products for a sustainable and green environment, microbial resources are becoming increasingly important. Thus, this Special Issue is focused on the recent progress in microbial polymer and pigment research, as well as commonly occurring short-comings and the underlying hidden opportunities.
Potential topics may include (but are not limited to):
- Bacteria as a source of pigments and dyes;
- Fungal pigments and their applications;
- Bacterial cellulose and its biomedical applications;
- Fermentation approaches to produce microbial polyesters;
- Polyhydroxyalkanoates: microbial polyesters;
- Untapped microbial resources for unique biopolymers and pigments;
- Co-production of biopolymer and astaxanthin;
- Microbial polymers and their applications;
- Molecular techniques exploited so far for PHA polymer production;
- Mixed cultures as a promising way for the economical production of polyhydroxyalkanoates;
- Novel applications of polyhydroxyalkanoates;
- Renewable substrates for microbial pigment production;
- Market potential of microbial pigments and polymers;
- Multipurpose usage of microbial pigments: an overview;
- Recent development of food and pharmaceutical grade pigments;
- Microbial carotenoids as an alternative to synthetic pigments;
- Microbial pigments in wood processing.
Dr. Prasun Kumar
Prof. Dr. Suchada Chanprateep Napathorn
Dr. Paulo Costa Lemos
Dr. Subhasree Ray
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- carotenoids
- melanin
- bacterial cellulose
- polyhydroxyalkanoates
- xanthan
- dextrans
- alginate
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