바이오스펙테이터

by Jongwon Jang

▲이종대 큐젠바이오텍 대표

Quegen-Biotech Inc. holds spontaneous technology of mass production of high-purity liquid phase beta-glucan.

Beta-glucan, a kind of polysaccharide, can be found in the cell wall of yeast, mushroom, and grains. Despite the existence of studies on the efficacies of beta-glucan such as immunological enhancement, dermal regeneration, and anti-obesity effect, actual exploitation of beta-glucan has not been explored much due to lack of mass production technology of high-purity grade Beta-glucan.

Quegen-Biotech Inc. developed a bacterial strain capable of secreting beta-glucan outside the cell of schizophyllum commune. The cultured bacterial strain of 1 liter of schizophyllum commune can yield more than 10g of beta-glucan resulting in mass production.

The advantages of the technology developed by Quegen Biotech Inc. includes the use of identical bacterial strain securing the standardized and consistent quality of beta-glucan compared to the conventional method wherein the compromised quality due to varied temperature or quality of raw materials is unavoidable.

President Lee stated, “… since the beta-glucan is secreted outside the cell and not extracted from the cell wall, the triple helix structure is preserved. The efficacy of secreted substance of beta-glucan is thus maximized thereby.”

Quegen Biotech Inc. tried to develop different formations of beta-glucan. President Lee explained, “… the purified beta-glucan can be converted into powder form for medical purposes, or converted into hydrogel using irradiation technology of radioactive rays without using other crosslinking agents.” The beta-glucan hydrogel can be applied as filler as well as a 3-dimensional badge for cell culture, in vivo artificial support, a therapeutic agent for wounds, etc.

Beta-glucan decreases the level of cholesterol as well as weight. It can also enhance immunity resulting in a reduction of risk of infection from wounds of operation or trauma. Furthermore, an increase in the effect of anticancer treatment along with the extension of survival time has been reported previously. Based on these results, the market for health & functional food containing beta-glucan has been developed in the overseas country.

Quegen Biotech Inc. has the plan to develop next-generation medicinal substances and medical equipment based on these results. President Lee explained, “… depending on periods of development, the short-term, mid-term, and long-term projects for the development of new products in diverse fields will be launched.” The short-term development of the new product will include the alleviating agent for an alcohol-induced hangover, health & functional foods, functional cosmetics, and non-pharmaceutical drugs and external applications associated with dental clinics; whereas for the mid-term and long-term projects, the efforts will be concentrated on the development of new medical substances.” President Lee also explained, “… we are ready to transfer product technologies through the cooperation of joint research with various research institutions and enterprises.”