Bioactive compound production via solid-state fermentation: emerging opportunities

The natural environment is an extraordinary reservoir of microorganisms that generate compounds with significant pharmaceutical relevance. Over the past decades, numerous companies have successfully exploited these microorganisms, primarily through submerged fermentation, to obtain antibiotics, enzymes, and other bioactive molecules. However, submerged fermentation sometimes presents limitations regarding oxygen transfer, production yields, compound stability, foaming, and environmental impact. Solid-state fermentation is a more sustainable alternative technology because it can valorize agro-industrial byproducts as culture media and produce bioactive compounds, contributing to a circular bioeconomy. The pharmaceutical industry is seeking solutions to decrease the costs of production processes and enhance process sustainability, and solid-state fermentation may provide exciting alternatives. However, challenges remain in scaling up, process control, and optimizing the recovery of bioactive compounds. This review highlights advances in bioactive compounds with potential pharmaceutical applications produced through solid-state fermentation, with particular emphasis on different classes, including antibiotics, biosurfactants, enzymes, polymers, vitamins, and aroma compounds. By addressing current limitations and showcasing innovative applications, solid-state fermentation is positioned as a viable complementary strategy for pharmaceutical bioprocesses. DOI: https://doi.org/10.54167/tch.v20i1.2152