Supercritical carbon dioxide micronization of zeaxanthin from moderately thermophilic bacteria Muricauda lutaonensis CC-HSB-11T

J Agric Food Chem. 2011 Apr 27;59(8):4119-24. doi: 10.1021/jf200444q. Epub 2011 Mar 18.

Abstract

Moderately thermophilic bacterial strain CC-HSB-11(T) (Muricauda lutaonensis), which was described recently from a coastal hot spring of Green Island, Taiwan, has been identified to produce zeaxanthin as a predominant xanthophyll by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Cell culture in bioreactor produced 3.12 ± 0.18 mg zeaxanthin L(-1) of culture. Micronization of zeaxanthin was achieved through supercritical carbon dioxide antisolvent precipitation method. Yield of zeaxanthin after the process was 53.4%. Dynamic light scattering assay determined the polydisperse existence of micronized particles of size 3 nm to 2 μm. Field emission scanning electron microscopy revealed distinct morphology and size distribution heterogeneity of particles. Integrity of zeaxanthin after the antisolvent process was assessed by LC-MS/MS. The technique capitalizes on the inherent ability of CC-HSB-11(T) to synthesize zeaxanthin and the work demonstrated feasibility of antisolvent precipitation method to produce microparticles exploiting a bacterial strain.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Carbon Dioxide / chemistry*
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Fermentation
  • Flavobacteriaceae / chemistry*
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
  • Xanthophylls / chemistry*
  • Zeaxanthins

Substances

  • Xanthophylls
  • Zeaxanthins
  • Carbon Dioxide