Team:UCL/Xylitol
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XYLITOL
1. Executive Summary
D-Xylitol is a sugar polyol that has been used in the food industry as a low-caloric sweetener. Also, it has reported having multiple beneficial health effects such as the prevention of dental caries, osteoporosis, and acute otitis media. Currently, D-Xylitol is commonly produced by the chemical reduction of D-Xylose presented in Xylans. However, this process represents substantial costs for the industry. We have designed a genetic circuit for the expression of the necessary enzymes for the biological production of xylitol from lignocellulose hydrolysates.
We have also created a comprehensive first iteration of a business plan for the production of Xweet, a key ingredient in tooth-decay defying sweets. We have filed a provisional patent and trademarked our more environmentally friendly method for the production of Xweet. Adopting a lean method, we have engaged extensively with the confectionary industry, prototyping Xweet confectionery and setting out a pathway for commercial success.
