Poly (γ-) Glutamic Acid : A Promising Biopolymer

Abstract

Poly (γ-) glutamic acid is a polymer of L or D - Glutamic acid units produced by          microorganisms as a defense mechanism as an act of stress tolerance. Production of γ-PGA by microbial source has been gaining attention due to its low cost of production and varied application with high compatibility and high biodegradability. Its application ranges from food industry to waste water treatment. γ-PGA is a major constituent of Japanese food - natto. PGA has vast applications in food, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, water treatment and other fields. The high research interest that currently is developing for γ-PGA is due to its potential as a biomedical material with a high biocompatibility and a fair biodegradability. In fact, γ-PGA is extensively used as a food additive and it is known to be hydrolytically degradable by water with or without intervening of proteases. An incessant number of publications dealing with the use of γ-PGA as drug delivery system are appearing in these last few years and several processes have been developed at large scale which are able to afford great amounts of this compound for industrial uses.