A Perspective Towards More Sustainable Production of Biotechnologically Relevant Enzymes Using DESs

The production of enzymes by the biotechnology industry yields high-value products for various sectors, including the pharmaceutical, food, textile, and detergent industries. Although enzymatic production processes are well established, there is a limitation with the purification of intracellular enzymes. These enzymes require extensive downstream separation and purification processes, adding significant labor and costs compared to extracellular enzymes, which are easier to purify. In this work, we conducted a literature review to demonstrate that deep eutectic solvents (DESs) can be a viable alternative, especially as a more sustainable medium for enzyme stabilization and reactions. Additionally, we hypothesize about their potential to extract intracellular enzymes from microorganisms without disrupting their normal functions. Therefore, beyond the current state of the art, we offer a new perspective on a novel approach for producing intracellular enzymes more sustainably and efficiently.