Fungal exopolysaccharides as next-generation microbial biomaterials: molecular biosynthesis, structural architecture, and translational biomanufacturing strategies

Abstract

Fungal exopolysaccharides (EPSs) are increasingly recognized as structurally programmable microbial polymers with applications spanning biomedicine, materials engineering, food systems, and environmental technologies. While previous reviews have often addressed fungal EPS diversity, production variables, or application domains separately, an integrated framework linking biosynthesis, molecular architecture, process control, and translational manufacturing remains underdeveloped. This review positions fungal EPSs as next-generation biomaterials by integrating (i) biochemical and genetic regulation of EPS biosynthesis, (ii) structure-function mapping across major polymer classes, (iii) cultivation and downstream processing workflows that enable reproducible product specifications, and (iv) industrial translation pathways within scalable and sustainability-aligned biomanufacturing systems. Gene-cluster-resolved case studies and process-to-product design principles illustrate how metabolic flux, fermentation parameters, and polymer modification shape functional performance. Current bottlenecks-including strain-dependent variability, purification complexity, quality harmonization, and techno-economic constraints-are critically evaluated to distinguish laboratory potential from scalable feasibility. By shifting from descriptive cataloging toward platform-based engineering logic, this review provides a translational roadmap for rational fungal EPS design within standardized and application-driven manufacturing frameworks.