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Derivatization and multifunctional applications of gum Arabic: from natural exudate to next-generation biopolymer
Rutu Patel1, Rucha Khumkar1, Vasanti Suvarna1
1Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, SVKM's Dr. Bhanuben Nanavati College of Pharmacy, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
Abstract:
Gum Arabic (GA), a natural dried exudate obtained mainly from Acacia senegal and Acacia seyal, is a highly branched polysaccharide-protein complex known for its excellent solubility, biodegradability, and emulsifying properties. Owing to its amphiphilic nature and safety profile, GA is extensively utilized in the food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, agricultural, and environmental sectors. This review highlights the chemical, enzymatic, and physical derivatization strategies employed to enhance GA's functional attributes such as solubility, stability, bioactivity, and emulsification capacity. Chemically modified GA derivatives, including sulfated, acetylated, and graft-copolymerized forms, have demonstrated superior performance in encapsulation, film formation, drug delivery, and biosensing. In food industries, GA serves as a natural stabilizer and encapsulant for oils, flavors, and antioxidants; in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, it functions as a carrier, bioadhesive, and natural emulsifier. GA-based composites also find applications in tissue engineering, textile finishing, water purification, agriculture, and biosensor fabrication due to their biocompatibility and green synthesis potential. Collectively, GA represents a promising renewable biopolymer platform for designing multifunctional materials with tailored physicochemical and biological properties, contributing to the advancement of sustainable and high-performance biopolymeric systems.
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