Polymers as Immobilizing Matrices for Enhanced Antimicrobial Production in Biofermentors: A Critical Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33687/ricosbiol.04.03.111Keywords:
Antimicrobial production, biofermentors, cell immobilization, polymer matrices, alginate, polyvinyl alcohol, chitosan, biopolymers, continuous fermentation, bacteriocins, antibiotics, antimicrobial resistance, bioreactor design, immobilized cell technologyAbstract
The escalating crisis of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) demands innovative production platforms for both existing and novel antimicrobial compounds. Biofermentors are central to the industrial manufacturing of these agents, yet conventional free‑cell fermentation suffers from inherent limitations such as low volumetric productivity, product inhibition, cell washout in continuous processes, and high downstream processing costs. Cell immobilization using polymer matrices has emerged as a powerful strategy to overcome these bottlenecks by retaining high cell densities, enabling continuous operation, and simplifying product recovery. This review critically examines the role of natural, synthetic, and composite polymers as immobilizing agents in biofermentors for antimicrobial production. The fundamental mechanisms of immobilization—entrapment, adsorption, covalent binding, encapsulation, and biofilm formation—are discussed alongside key polymer selection criteria. Recent applied uses are highlighted, including continuous nisin production with Lactococcus lactis immobilized in alginate‑polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) composite beads, penicillin V production using Penicillium chrysogenum biofilms on polyurethane foam, and recyclable magnetic alginate microspheres for actinorhodin production. Challenges such as mass‑transfer limitations, polymer stability, and scale‑up difficulties are critically analyzed. Future perspectives emphasize stimuli‑responsive polymers, 3D‑printed scaffolds, and computational modeling to enable next‑generation immobilized fermentation platforms. By integrating polymer science with bioreactor engineering, immobilized cell technology offers a sustainable path toward more efficient antimicrobial manufacturing.
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Data Availability Statement
The data supporting the conclusions of this review are derived from previously published studies, which are cited throughout the manuscript. Any aggregated datasets used for comparative analysis, if applicable, are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
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