Engineering starch by enzymatic structure design for versatile applications in food industries: a critical review

As the second largest production material, starch has important value in textile, food, chemical and other fields. The shortcomings of natural starch can be solved, and its properties can be improved by modifying its structure, developing original properties, or introducing new functions, making it more suitable for certain application requirements. At present, the methods of starch modification mainly include chemical, physical, and enzymatic modification. In comparison with the two traditional modification methods (chemical and physical modification) mentioned above, enzymatic modification has the advantages of mild conditions, high substrate selectivity, and high product safety, and it is the most ideal green modification method. In this paper, we present an overview of the modified starch by enzymatic structure design. The modification process and mechanism for granule starch and gelatinized starch are summarized. Further, the difficulties encountered in starch modification by enzymatic modification were also analyzed. These analyses could pave a way for understanding and broadening the preparation and applications of modified starch, and provide theoretical references for the utilization of amylase in starch modification.