Are Lipases Still Important Biocatalysts? A Study of Scientific Publications and Patents for Technological Forecasting

Abstract

The great potential of lipases is known since 1930 when the work of J. B. S. Haldane was published. After eighty-five years of studies and developments, are lipases still important biocatalysts? For answering this question the present work investigated the technological development of four important industrial sectors where lipases are applied: production of detergent formulations; organic synthesis, focusing on kinetic resolution, production of biodiesel, and production of food and feed products. The analysis was made based on research publications and patent applications, working as scientific and technological indicators, respectively. Their evolution, interaction, the major players of each sector and the main subject matters disclosed in patent documents were discussed. Applying the concept of technology life cycle, S-curves were built by plotting cumulative patent data over time to monitor the attractiveness of each technology for investment. The results lead to a conclusion that the use of lipases as biocatalysts is still a relevant topic for the industrial sector, but developments are still needed for lipase biocatalysis to reach its full potential, which are expected to be achieved within the third, and present, wave of biocatalysis.

Potencial catalítico de lipases ligadas ao micélio de fungos filamentosos em processos de biotransformação

“…Em um estudo muito interessante visando avaliar se o uso das lipases como biocatalisadores ainda é relevante no contexto tecnoló-gico, Daiha et al, 14 analisaram o número de publicações e patentes relacionados, em um período de trinta anos (1983 a 2012), com base em quatro setores industriais de diferentes estágios de desenvolvimento e com diferentes níveis tecnológicos. Durante a busca de patentes, foram obtidos 671 documentos relacionados à resolução cinética, 456 na formulação de detergente, 165 para a produção de biodiesel e 544 para produtos do setor alimentício e veterinário.…”

“…13 Esta característica faz com que as lipases apresentem aplicação em vários setores, como por exemplo, na indústria alimentícia, farmacêutica, de química fina, oleoquímica, energia (biodiesel) e na formulação de detergentes, dentre outros. Com base em indicadores, científico e tecnológico, Daiha et al, 14 relataram que a importância das lipases como biocatalisadores, identificada em 1930, ainda mantem elevado grau de interesse para aplicação em diversos segmentos industriais, com projeção de crescimento na demanda mundial estimada em 6,2% anualmente, atingindo US$ 345 milhões em 2017.…”

Enzyme technology in Brazil: trade balance and research community

“…The searches were carried out to four important industrial sectors that employ lipases-kinetic resolution, production of detergents, food and feed and biodiesel-using the search strategies disclosed in Tables 2 and 3. The data obtained from these searches also resulted in a study that aimed at evaluating the biotechnological interest towards lipases, which study was published by our research group in the journal Plos One, in 2015 (Daiha et al 2015).…”

Response Surface Methodology (RSM) for analysing culture conditions of Acidocella facilis strain USBA-GBX-505 and Partial Purification and Biochemical Characterization of Lipase 505 LIP

“…These enzymes are industrially important due to their capacity to act in environments with a low concentration of water, allowing them to perform esterification, transesterification, aminolytic and acidolytic reactions [4] with high efficiency and stability. The lipases are able to http://ciencias.javeriana.edu.co/investigacion/universitas-scientiarum catalyse enzymatic reactions with efficiency, stability and chemo-, region-and enantioselectivity, as well as not requiring cofactors and high activity levels in organic solvents make them versatile biocatalysers for industrial purposes [5], including food, dairy, agrochemical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and detergent production [5,6] due to their unique properties, associated with their broad substrate range [7].…”

“…By 2017, the industrial demand for lipolytic enzymes will rise 6.2% [5], which means that it is necessary to continue to research and develop technology relating to them. Many of the lipolytic enzymes have poor stability during industrial processes, are denatured at high temperatures or extreme pH (alkaline or acid) and tend to lose activity over time at room temperature, resulting in inefficient catalysts.…”