Microbial biosurfactants: current trends and applications in agricultural and biomedical industries

Abstract

Synthetic surfactants are becoming increasingly unpopular in many applications due to previously disregarded effects on biological systems and this has led to a new focus on replacing such products with biosurfactants that are biodegradable and produced from renewal resources. Microbially derived biosurfactants have been investigated in numerous studies in areas including: increasing feed digestibility in an agricultural context, improving seed protection and fertility, plant pathogen control, antimicrobial activity, antibiofilm activity, wound healing and dermatological care, improved oral cavity care, drug delivery systems and anticancer treatments. The development of the potential of biosurfactants has been hindered somewhat by the myriad of approaches taken in their investigations, the focus on pathogens as source species and the costs associated with large‐scale production. Here, we focus on various microbial sources of biosurfactants and the current trends in terms of agricultural and biomedical applications.

Nanoencapsulation of sophorolipids in PEGylated poly(lactide-co-glycolide) as a novel approach to target colon carcinoma in the murine model

“…The average tumour size of animals treated with F9 was significantly lower compared to the control group and animals treated with the free drug (p < 0.001). At the end of the experiment, the average size of the tumour mass of control animals treated with saline was found to be 993.5 ± 142.5 mm 3 . The average tumour size of animals treated with free SL was 706.7 ± 105.3 mm 3 and the percentage tumour growth inhibition (% TGI) was 28.9%.…”

“…These useful properties give rise to a broad range of applications spanning the pharmaceutical and medicinal fields. These include inhibition of bacterial growth, stimulation of immune response, enzyme stimulation, tumour growth inhibition, cell lysis (haemolysis), food digestion and antifungal activity [3].…”

Antimikrobna učinkovitost ljekovitog bilja i njihov utjecaj na kvalitetu sireva

“…Essential or volatile oils are aromatic oily liquids, extracted by distillation from plant parts, such as flowers, buds, seeds, leaves, twigs, bark, wood, fruits and roots. Because of their valuable proper-ties and active substances, they have found their path in many different industries as well as in the dairy industry (Naughton et al, 2019). The aromatic oils used in food production include oils from oregano (Origanum vulgare), mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris), tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia), turmeric (Curcuma longa), peppermint (Mentha piperita), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), sage (Salvia officinalis), cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum), thyme (Thymus vulgaris), ginger (Zingiber officinale), eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus), and garlic (Allium sativum) (Rao et al, 2019).…”

Immunomodulatory Role of Microbial Surfactants, with Special Emphasis on Fish

“…The membrane disintegrates leading to the penetration of the cell wall and plasma membrane by pore formation and subsequent leakage of inner cytoplasmic materials leading to cell death. Further, rhamnolipid inserts its shorter acyl tails into the cell membrane and attacks the configuration of the cell wall and plasma membrane [ 24 ]. Sophorolipids possess antibacterial, antiviral, anti-cancer, and anti-mycoplasma activities [ 24 , 25 , 26 ].…”