# Enzymatic Synthesis of Sugar-Derived Biosurfactants Using Multifunctional Ionic Liquids

> **NIH NIH R15** · HOWARD UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $448,706

## Abstract

Project Summary
Fatty acid sugar esters are a type of nonionic glycolipid surfactants and can be made from renewable
biomaterials (saccharides and fatty acids). These biosurfactants are non-toxic, tasteless, odorless, nonirritant,
and biodegradable with broad applications in pharmaceuticals, detergents and cleaners, cosmetics, and the
food industry. As a timely application, these biosurfactants could control the spread of coronavirus-2 (SARS-
CoV-2) by disrupting viral membrane, serving as handwashing and cleaning agents, and targeting and
relieving the symptoms after infection. Enzymatic synthesis can lead to regioselective biosurfactants, but is
hampered by a lack of reaction systems that can dissolve both polar sugar molecules and non-polar fatty
acids/fatty acid esters. The long-term goal is to mentor and guide a team of undergraduates to develop a
general methodology for efficient synthesis of glycolipid-type biosurfactants. The main objective of this
proposal is for students to synthesize functionalized ionic solvents, called ionic liquids (ILs), that are lipase-
compatible and can dissolve sugars and fatty acids/fatty acid esters, and conduct enzymatic preparation of
sugar fatty acid esters in ionic media. The central hypothesis is that ionic liquids can be functionalized to
afford high substrate dissolution and high lipase activity at the same time to promote efficient synthesis of
glycolipid-type biosurfactants. To achieve this objective, three Specific Aims are proposed: Specific Aim 1:
Design “water-like” multifunctional ILs that can dissolve sugars and are compatible with lipases. Specific Aim
2: Synthesize mono- and disaccharide fatty acid esters via enzymatic (trans)esterifications in functionalized
ionic solvents. Specific Aim 3: Prepare oligo- and polysaccharide fatty acid esters via enzymatic
transesterification in functionalized ionic solvents. This research is innovative and significant because the
synergistic combination of substrate-dissolving ILs and their high compatibility with enzymes will enable
students to create a general methodology for enzymatic synthesis of biosurfactants. The primary impact of
this project will be working with a predominantly undergraduate student research team to develop an efficient
preparation of a variety of sugar-based biosurfactants that have broad applications in the pharmaceutical
industry. The project will involve the significant participation of undergraduate students in all stages of the
research, including implementation of research plans and analysis of findings. These research experiences will
develop undergraduate student research competencies, thereby preparing them for careers in biomedical
research and/or graduate studies, while additionally strengthening the research environment at the University
of Northern Colorado. The main objective of this proposal is consistent with the NIH mission to develop
efficient reaction systems to produce biosurfactants with major uses in pharmaceut...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10291051
- **Project number:** 1R15GM143682-01
- **Recipient organization:** HOWARD UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Sung Joon Kim
- **Activity code:** R15 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $448,706
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-09-01 → 2025-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10291051

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10291051, Enzymatic Synthesis of Sugar-Derived Biosurfactants Using Multifunctional Ionic Liquids (1R15GM143682-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10291051. Licensed CC0.

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