Harnessing the Potential of Biosurfactants for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Applications

Abstract

Biosurfactants (BSs) are microbial compounds that have emerged as potential alternatives to chemical surfactants due to their multifunctional properties, sustainability and biodegradability. Owing to their amphipathic nature and distinctive structural arrangement, biosurfactants exhibit a range of physicochemical properties, including excellent surface activity, efficient critical micelle concentration, humectant properties, foaming and cleaning abilities and the capacity to form microemulsions. Furthermore, numerous biosurfactants display additional biological characteristics, such as antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral effects, and antioxidant, anticancer and immunomodulatory activities. Over the past two decades, numerous studies have explored their potential applications, including pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, antimicrobial and antibiofilm agents, wound healing, anticancer treatments, immune system modulators and drug/gene carriers. These applications are particularly important in addressing challenges such as antimicrobial resistance and biofilm formations in clinical, hygiene and therapeutic settings. They can also serve as coating agents for surfaces, enabling antiadhesive, suppression, or eradication strategies. Not least importantly, biosurfactants have shown compatibility with various drug formulations, including nanoparticles, liposomes, micro- and nanoemulsions and hydrogels, improving drug solubility, stability and bioavailability, and enabling a targeted and controlled drug release. These qualities make biosurfactants promising candidates for the development of next-generation antimicrobial, antibiofilm, anticancer, wound-healing, immunomodulating, drug or gene delivery agents, as well as adjuvants to other antibiotics. Analysing the most recent literature, this review aims to update the present understanding, highlight emerging trends, and identify promising directions and advancements in the utilization of biosurfactants within the pharmaceutical and biomedical fields.

Advancements in biosurfactant production using agro-industrial waste for industrial and environmental applications

“…The circular economy’s fundamental principles, which involve transforming waste into valuable resources and promoting a more sustainable and regenerative economic model, are reinforced through agro based industrial waste for the production of biosurfactants ( Venkataraman et al, 2023 ). The use of agro-industrial waste can enhance local and regional economies by promoting the growth of new value-added firms, generating employment opportunities, and increasing the competitiveness of agro-industrial sectors ( Ceresa et al, 2023 ). Conversely, with the growing significance of environmental sustainability and safety to regulatory authorities, biosurfactants are expected to experience a rise in market expansion and acceptance ( Jimoh et al, 2021 ).…”

Does regulation hold the key to optimizing lipopeptide production in Pseudomonas for biotechnology?

“…In contrast, synthetic surfactants were unable to complement the non-motile phenotype indicating that unique physiochemical properties relating to the chemical structure of LPs contribute to bacterial movement ( Andersen, 2003 ). The diverse structures and physiochemical properties of LPs make them attractive alternatives to chemical surfactants for numerous industrial applications ( Ceresa et al, 2023 ).…”

“…are becoming increasingly attractive cell factories for the production of high-value chemicals including native and non-native SMs in part due to their capacity to utilize cheap carbon sources ( Nikel et al, 2014 ; Wang et al, 2020 ). Using renewable resources, e.g., agricultural and food waste would greatly increase the commercialization potential of CLPs making bioprocessing of these compounds more sustainable ( Ceresa et al, 2023 ). Importantly, Pseudomonas spp.…”

Recombinant Production of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Rhamnolipids in P. putida KT2440 on Acetobacterium woodii Cultures Grown Chemo-Autotrophically with Carbon Dioxide and Hydrogen

“…For almost every sector of modern industry, surfactants have become an indispensable component, which is evidenced by a worldwide production in the order of 18 million tons per year and the wide range of applications they are used in, including the food industry, agriculture, medicine, and healthcare, as well as textiles and bioremediation [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]. However, as most commercial surfactants are still produced from nonrenewable petrochemical precursors, a major focus in recent decades has been on the discovery and commercialization of biosurfactants, which are almost exclusively of microbiological origin and produced from renewable substrates [ 6 ].…”