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Title: LIPID-BASED COSMECEUTICALS VIA BIOCATALYSIS AND BIOELECTROCATALYSIS

Author
item Compton, David - Dave

Submitted to: Annual Meeting and Expo of the American Oil Chemists' Society
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/3/2006
Publication Date: 5/3/2006
Citation: Compton, D.L. 2006. Lipid-based cosmeceuticals via biocatalysis and bioelectrocatalysis [abstract]. Annual Meeting and Expo of the American Oil Chemists' Society. p. 22

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: New and expanded markets are needed for commodity vegetable oils as a result of their over production. New uses for these oils can be applied once they have been modified to enhance their functional (physical/chemical) properties. Cost-effective and environmentally benign processing technologies must be investigated in order to identify strategies for generating high-value products from vegetable oils. Our research has focused on the use of lipases and electrode-immobilized oxidoreductases to biocatalytically convert vegetable oils into ingredients for the cosmeceutical and nutriceutical industries. Specifically, we have demonstrated that vegetable oils can be esterified with the natural plant component ferulic acid to form all natural ultraviolet (UV) absorbing oils with excellent antioxidative properties. These feruloylated lipids have been tested as ingredients for cosmetics, as a natural UV protectant for insecticidal biocontrol agents, and as a bio-based industrial lubricant. We have also studied the use of electrode-immobilized redox active enzymes to impart specific functionality to vegetable oils, such as hydroxylation and desaturation. These potentially new and expanded markets for commodity vegetable oils will enhance the profitability of small- and medium-sized agribusinesses.