Biosynthesis Strategies and Application Progress of Mandelic Acid Based on Biomechanical Properties

Mandelic acid (MA), as an important chiral aromatic hydroxy acid, is widely used in medicine, the chemical industry, and agriculture. With the continuous growth of market demand, traditional chemical synthesis methods are increasingly inadequate to meet the requirements of green and sustainable development due to issues such as complex processes, poor stereoselectivity, numerous byproducts, and serious environmental pollution. MA synthesis strategies based on biocatalytic technology have become a research hotspot due to their high efficiency, environmental friendliness, and excellent stereoselectivity. Significant progress has been made in enzyme engineering modifications, metabolic pathway design, and process optimization. Importantly, biomechanical research provides a transformative perspective for this field. By analyzing the mechanical response characteristics of microbial cells in bioreactors, biomechanics facilitates the regulation of relevant environmental factors during the fermentation process, thereby improving synthesis efficiency. Molecular dynamics simulations are also employed to uncover stability differences in enzyme–substrate complexes, providing a structural mechanics basis for the rational design of highly catalytically active enzyme variants. These biomechanic-driven approaches lay the foundation for the future development of intelligent, responsive biosynthesis systems. The deep integration of biomechanics and synthetic biology is reshaping the process paradigm of green MA manufacturing. This review will provide a comprehensive summary of the applications of MA and recent advances in its biosynthesis, with a particular focus on the pivotal role of biomechanical characteristics.