Caracterização e avaliação da estabilidade do ácido lactobiônico e de diferentes lactobionatos produzidos por Zymomonas mobilis visando à utilização na área farmacêutica

Abstract

Lactobionic acid and its salts (lactobionate) are substances that have several applications in pharmaceutical area. These products were obtained by enzymatic complex glucose-fructose-oxidoreductase (GFOR)/gluconolactonase (GL) present in the periplasm of Zymomonas mobilis cells that were immobilized in calcium alginate. In the reactions catalyzed by this enzyme system, the medium pH must be controlled at slightly acid values. For this purpose, NaOH, KOH, or Ca(OH)2 were used and as a result the respective salts were formed. The kinetic study on the formation of sodium, potassium and calcium lactobionate and lactobionic acid itself was followed by the steps of purification, characterization and evaluation of the physicochemical stability, aiming the potential use of these compounds in the pharmaceutical area. In the assays for the bioproduction of sodium, potassium or calcium lactobionates, yields of 74, 77 and 84% were obtained, respectively. In repeated bioconversion batches, totalizing 96 hours of use of the biocatalyst, yields of 80 and 56% were attained for calcium and potassium lactobionate. In the salts purification step, purity levels of approximately 95% were achieved, and subsequently these compounds were characterized by high performance liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, and C13 NMR. In the studies of accelerated, long term and forced degradation stability, the production of sodium, potassium and calcium lactobionate was carried out at higher reaction volume. The products were purified and then evaluated together with lactobionic acid that was obtained by ion-exchange from sodium lactobionate, and with a commercial lactobionic acid (Sigma-Aldrich). In the accelerated and long term stability tests, it was demonstrated the stability of all compounds when exposed to 30 and 40oC and of 75%of relative humidity for up to six months. On the other hand, the presence of lactobionolactone was identified in samples of compounds in the acid form. With respect to the forced degradation tests, sodium, potassium and calcium lactobionates and lactobionic acid have shown to be stable after exposing to both acidic and alkaline solutions and the temperatures evaluated. However, degradation was observed in the treatment with oxidative solution, with a zero-order degradation kinetics for the salts forms and second-order for lactobionic acid. High concentrations of products - sodium, potassium and calcium lactobionate - were achieved by using the Ca-alginate immobilized GFOR/GL complex. Considering the set of information obtained in regarding to physicochemical characterization, it was demonstrated the high stability of these compounds in front of different parameters evaluated, endorsing the legal minimum requirements for their application in the pharmaceutical area.