A comprehensive review on production, characterization, and applications of marine bacterial exopolysaccharides

Marine bacterial exopolysaccharides (EPSs) have gained significant interest as next-generation biomaterials due to their remarkable resilience to extreme marine conditions and their diverse biological properties. In fact, marine microbes use these biopolymers as protective barrier for survival under harsh oceanic conditions. Interestingly, these EPSs exhibit notable bioactivities such as anti-oxidant, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties, alongside their biocompatibility and biodegradability. Recent research trends suggest that, their unique physicochemical and versatile functional properties make them potential candidates towards bioprospecting of marine bacterial diversity for novel and emerging applications spanning diverse industrial sectors like biomedicine, pharmaceuticals, food technology, cosmetics, and environmental remediation. Despite this progress, significant challenges remain, particularly in the development of techno-commercially feasible bioprocesses and unravelling the complex molecular architecture of these high-molecular-weight polymers. While the majority of earlier reviews mostly focused on specific areas, the present review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of all aspects of research on marine bacterial EPSs conducted over the last decade. It attempts to draw a pen-picture of the state-of-the-art in area of fermentative production of EPSs across diverse marine bacterial taxa. Also, different analytical techniques required for their physio-chemical characterization are highlighted to correlate with functionalities. In fact, diverse industrial applications of these EPSs are discussed in detail to understand their importance in building a blue bio-economy. Additionally, this review would attempt to identify current knowledge gaps and provide future research directions to unlock the full potential of marine bacterial EPSs as sustainable bioresources.