Efficient production of bioactive structured lipids by fast acidolysis catalyzed by Yarrowia lipolytica lipase, free and immobilized in chitosan-alginate beads, in solvent-free medium

Structured lipids (SL) represent a new generation of lipids, considered bioactive compounds. Medium-chain, oleic (18:1n-9), and medium-chain fatty acid (MCFA) structured lipids (MOM-SL) were produced by acidolysis reaction in solvent-free medium with capric (10:0) and lauric (12:0) free fatty acids (FFAs) and triolein or olive oil, using Yarrowia lipolytica lipase as biocatalyst. MCFAs were rapidly incorporated into sn-1,3 SL in acidolysis reactions with triolein and olive oil, up until 30% of incorporation efficiency of capric and lauric acids in SLs. The kinetics of MCFA incorporation in MOM-SL was influenced by the FFA:TAG molar ratio, and for reactions between triolein and lauric acid, increasing FFA:TAG from 2:1 to 4:1 enhanced MCFA incorporation in SL. Y. lipolytica lipase showed a strictly 1,3-regioselective profile in acidolysis reaction, confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Immobilization of this lipase by microencapsulation in chitosan-alginate beads resulted in similar incorporation efficiency for lauric acid with olive oil TAG and this reaction could be performed for 5 cycles without catalytic activity loss. This lipase showed promising properties as a potential biocatalyst that may be effectively used in production of bioactive structured lipids, which might be applied for prevention of metabolic and inflammatory disorders related to obesity. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.