Bacterial Exopolysaccharides: Production, Characterization and Formulation of Innovative Materials for High-Value Applications

Dear Colleagues,

The research of naturally produced polymers for high-value applications, such as biomedical, cosmetics, nutrition, etc., is currently an attractive topic. Bacteria are the main cell factories for producing exopolysaccharides as a principal component of the biofilm matrix. The production of bacterial exopolysaccharides is based on the ability of bacteria in the conversion of a wide range of carbon sources in a large variety of biopolymers, such as cellulose, alginate, hyaluronate, levan and dextran. Exopolysaccharides produced by bacteria are receiving more attention thanks to their unique properties, such as high purity and biocompatibility, making them suitable for a wide range of applications in many fields, ranging from biomedical, such as nutritional, cosmetics, regenerative medicine, to environmental and food applications. The development of bacterial exopolysaccharides and their in situ/ex situ modification strategies, including synthetic biology, are continuously evolving, allowing the formulation of new tailor-made bio-based materials for high-value products.

In this context, the aim of this Special Issue is to explore new advances and challenges in bacterial exopolysaccharide-based materials, focusing on the following topics:

• Bacterial exopolysaccharides production: description of bacterial species and biological mechanisms for biopolymer production; optimization of culture conditions; formulation of alternative media;
• Formulation of new bio-based materials: advances in methodologies and strategies for bacterial biopolymer modification using conventional (i.e., in situ or ex situ modification) or innovative approaches (i.e., genetic engineering);
• Characterization towards specific application niche: chemical-physical, morphological and mechanical characterization, and biocompatibility.

Dr. Salvatore La China
Dr. Maria Gullo
Dr. Selestina Gorgieva
Guest Editors

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