Kefiran

ABRAHAM A.G.; SIMONELLI, NICOLAS; GAGLIARINI, NINA; MEDRANO, MICAELA; PIERMARIA JUDITH A.

Polysaccharides of Microbial Origin. Biomedical Applications

Springer

Lugar: Nueva York; Año: 2021;

Kefiran, a high-molecular weight exopolysaccharide produced by microorganisms present in thekefir grains or in the fermented milk prepared with them, has displayed an increased attention onaccount of its physicochemical properties and biological activity. Several health-promotingproperties of kefiran such as epithelium protection against toxigenic factors of Bacillus cereus,antitumoral activity or bifidogenic activity have been reported. Futhermore, antimicrobial,antioxidant or wound healing activity were also reported. Kefiran has a Newtonian behaviour indiluted solutions but pseudoplastic at high concentrations and has promising technologicalapplication since it has the ability to increase viscosity and improve viscoelastic properties of acidmilk gels, forms viscoelastic gels at low temperature and is able to form transparent films withgood mechanical properties as well as can contribute to emulsion stability. Kefiran or kefiran-wheyproteins-based films are interesting matrix as carriers of probiotics. Kefiran cryogels were alsoconsidered as scaffold for tissue engineering or skin repair. Therefore, kefiran arise as a novelbiopolymer with a wide range of applications in food and biomedical industries.