Author(s): Freitas, David ; Ribeiro, Artur ; Cavaco-Paulo, Artur ; Silva, C
Date: 2025
Persistent ID: https://hdl.handle.net/1822/98180
Origin: RepositóriUM - Universidade do Minho
Subject(s): deep eutectic solvents; sustainable solvents; enzymatic processes; extraction; Pharma-cosmetics
Natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) are produced by combining natural compounds, such as sugars, amino acids, or organic acids, to form a liquid at room temperature. Compared to other solvents, NADES own several strengths, including cost-effectiveness, ease of preparation, tunable properties, biorenewability, and biodegradability, making them suitable for a wide range of industrial sectors. Research on NADES requires careful consideration of their composition and physicochemical properties, as these can significantly influence their range of applications. In this context, the main objective of this review is to provide insights into the application of NADES in different areas that go from enzymatic processes and extraction of bioactives to the formulation of pharmaceutical and cosmetic products. This review includes several case studies on the use of enzymeNADES systems (lipase and laccase) to synthesize new materials and on the extraction of bioactives with NADES, highlighting their direct application in cosmetics and pharmaceutical formulations.
