MUMBAI, India, Sept. 28 -- Intellectual Property India has published a patent application (202641110573 A) filed by Prathyusha Engineering College on September 15, 2026, for Pectin-Pectinase Enzyme Responsive Drug Delivery System For Controlled Drug Release.
Inventors include Dr. P. Dhasarathan; P. Durga; and R. Niroshini.
The application for the patent was published on September 25, 2026, under issue no. 39/2026.
Abstract: Agro-industrial residues, such as orange peels and wheat bran, are significant underutilized resources that were valorized in this study for the production of pectin powder. This study aimed to utilize agro-residue-derived pectin for pectinase production and the subsequent development of a pectin-based hydrogel for drug delivery applications. Pectin formulated from these sources was incorporated into agar medium to screen pectinase-producing microorganisms isolated from rotten lemon samples. Initial screening identified three fungal strains (PI, P2, and P3), with strain P2 exhibiting the highest enzyme activity, characterized by a 45 mm clearance zone. The optimization of the P2 isolate achieved maximum enzyme activity at a 0.3% pectin concentration, pH 9, and an incubation temperature of 35°Cover 6 days. Building upon these findings, a hydrogel was synthesized using an optimized formulation of I% pectin powder, 2% enzyme extract (pectinase), and 0.8% agar. Chlorophyll (plant leaf extract) was incorporated to enhance the functional properties of the matrix. The resulting hydrogel was comprehensively characterized by swelling, degradation, and phenolic compound release tests. The experimental results revealed a swelling index of 3.44% within one hour and a degradation rate of 74% over a 24-hour period. Furthermore, the drug release index demonstrated a controlled release profile, achieving 50% release within 4 h. These results highlight the novelty of this study in providing a sustainable, green bioprocessing pathway for transforming agro-industrial waste into high-value biotechnological products and efficient drug-delivery systems.
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