Microbial lipases: advances in production, purification, biochemical characterization, and multifaceted applications in industry and medicine

Lipases are biocatalysts of significant industrial and medical relevance, owing to their ability to hydrolyze lipid substrates and catalyze esterification reactions under mild conditions. This review provides a comprehensive overview of microbial lipases’ production, purification, and biochemical properties. It explores optimized fermentation strategies to enhance enzyme yield, including using agro-industrial residues as substrates. The challenges associated with purification techniques such as ultrafiltration, chromatography, and precipitation are discussed, alongside methods to improve enzyme stability and specificity. Additionally, the review addresses the growing importance of genetic engineering approaches for improving lipase characteristics, such as activity, stability, and specificity.