17/12/2014
PULLULAN AND ITS APPLICATION
Pullulan is a biopolymer with unique and interesting properties. It is basically a
polysaccharide produced by the fermentation of carbohydrate (starch/sugar) by
Aureobasidium pullulans. Ubiquitous yeast like fungus. Chemically, it consists of
repeated unit of maltotriose units where three glucose units in maltotriose are
connected by an α-1,4 glycosidic bond and consecutive maltotriose units are
connected to each other by an α-1,6
glycosidic bond. This typical linkage
pattern in fact render some distinctive
physical traits which are different from
many known polysaccharide, one
interesting characteristic it posses is
high adhesion properties, which tend
to form strong film with oxygen
impermeable ability.
Pullulan is a white to off white powder and is flavorless, odorless tasteless and
extremely stable. It is non toxic and non immunogenic in nature and readily dissolves
in water and at 5-10% it forms a non-hygroscopic viscous solution. Its viscosity is
comparatively lower than many polysaccharides and it equivalent to gum Arabic. Its
viscosity high in lower concentration and remains constant to relatively high
concentration and does not form a gel. It decomposes at 250 C -- 280 C.
Being a versatile polysaccharide it has wide and interesting application in food,
cosmetic and pharmaceutical industry with a technology platform for innovation.
Pullulan in Food
Being a non starch polysaccharide it can be used in food primarily as binder and
thickener. Due to its low viscosity pullulan can also be used as low viscosity filler in
beverages and sauces. Its adhesive nature is exploited for making of confectioneries
like, chocolates, candies, nut cookies, lollipop toffee etc, also as protective glazing
agent in food product.
It can also be used as low calorie additive and prebiotic because in the gut amylase is
resistance to Pullulan therefore it is partially digested resulting in isomaltose, which
help in growth of beneficial bacteria specially bifidobacterium. As low calorie food
Pullulan can be added as partial replacement for starch in pasta, baked foods, bread,
biscuit and noodles etc.
Pullulan as food additive have been extensively used in Japan since last 20 year and
has GRAS status in USA while in Europe it has the E number E-1204 as food additive.
Pullulan in Cosmetics
Pullulan also has wide application as additive and thickener in cosmetic formulation
by providing smoothness due to its stable viscous nature in wide range of pH, to
heating, in most metal ion including sodium chloride.
Pullulan has film forming ability. Also it is has characteristics like water solubility,
dispersibility, moisture absorptivity, tackiness and toxicity. These properties of Pullulan
helps to be used in various cosmetic formulations like lotion, shampoo, face pack,
eyeliner, lipstick, powder, gel, mascara, shrub etc.
The adherence nature of Pullulan helps considerably in tightening of the skin resulting
in exhibiting strong antiaging effect. Being a biopolymer it also forms sheer film
improving skin texture. Being viscous oil resistance and water soluble it can be easily
washed away from the skin and maintaining freshness of the skin.
Pullulan in Pharmaceuticals
In pharmaceutical its film forming ability is exploited for making oral strip where
colours flavour and functional ingredient can be entrapped in the film matrix and
effectively stabilized. Further this film forming ability is also utilized for making of
capsule and soft gel capsule. It can also be used as bulking agent in tablets. Pullulan
coating of dietary supplement tablets and soft gel helps to maintain the stability of
active ingredient which is prone to oxidation. It oxygen impermeability is 9 time better
then gelatin capsule and 300 times better than HPMC capsule. Being fermentation
based product it is considered vegetative and has no ‘BSE’ issue. The capsule from
Pullulan can be considered as vegetal, non starch, transparent, Gluten free,
preservative free and non-GMO.
Additionally pullulan and its derivative have also been used in photographic,
lithographic, electronics and biomedical application (tissue engineering, wound
healing). And future prospects for pullulan looks very promising with new innovative
application coming into being and its availability and production increasing in a cost
effective way
