title: Natural and edible biopolymer poly-gamma-glutamic acid: synthesis, production, and applications.
abstract: Poly-gamma-glutamic acid (gamma-PGA) is a very promising biodegradable polymer that is produced by Bacillus subtilis. Gamma-PGA is water-soluble, anionic, biodegradable, and edible. This paper reviews the production of a strain of gamma-PGA and recent developments with respect to applications in terms of Ca absorption, moisturizing properties, gamma-PGA conjugation, super absorbent polymer, and so on. Our recent research shows that gamma-PGA can be used as an immune-stimulating and anti-tumor agent, especially at high molecular weight.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bio & Nanochemistry, Kookmin University, 861-1 Chongnung-dong, Songbuk-gu, Seoul 136-702, Korea. smoonhee@kookmin.ac.kr
authors.forename: Moon-Hee
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.forename: Chung
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Chul-Joong
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Haryoung
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Poo
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Soda
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ashiuchi
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D001688:Biological Products / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D001704:Biopolymers / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008970:Molecular Weight; D011099:Polyglutamic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001688:Biological Products; D001704:Biopolymers; C511775:poly(gamma-glutamic acid); D011099:Polyglutamic Acid