Recent Advances in Biomedical, Therapeutic and Pharmaceutical Applications of Microbial Surfactants

Abstract

The spread of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens typically existing in biofilm formation and the recent COVID-19 pandemic, although unrelated phenomena, have demonstrated the urgent need for methods to combat such increasing threats. New avenues of research for natural molecules with desirable properties to alleviate this situation have, therefore, been expanding. Biosurfactants comprise a group of unique and varied amphiphilic molecules of microbial origin capable of interacting with lipidic membranes/components of microorganisms and altering their physicochemical properties. These features have encouraged closer investigations of these microbial metabolites as new pharmaceutics with potential applications in clinical, hygiene and therapeutic fields. Mounting evidence has indicated that biosurfactants have antimicrobial, antibiofilm, antiviral, immunomodulatory and antiproliferative activities that are exploitable in new anticancer treatments and wound healing applications. Some biosurfactants have already been approved for use in clinical, food and environmental fields, while others are currently under investigation and development as antimicrobials or adjuvants to antibiotics for microbial suppression and biofilm eradication strategies. Moreover, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, biosurfactants are now being explored as an alternative to current products or procedures for effective cleaning and handwash formulations, antiviral plastic and fabric surface coating agents for shields and masks. In addition, biosurfactants have shown promise as drug delivery systems and in the medicinal relief of symptoms associated with SARS-CoV-2 acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Diverse Effects of Natural and Synthetic Surfactants on the Inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus Biofilm

“…Among surfactants, biosurfactants (BSs) may represent ideal natural candidates to inhibit the contamination of medical devices by microbial pathogens. In the last decade, a large number of publications has described their anti-adhesive and anti-biofilm properties as coating agents on implantable devices preserving their biocompatibility [ 29 , 30 , 31 ]. The commercial success of these natural compounds, however, is related to their ability to exhibit equal or superior performance over chemicals.…”

“…The commercial success of these natural compounds, however, is related to their ability to exhibit equal or superior performance over chemicals. Biosurfactants are characterized by a series of advantages such as low toxicity, high biodegradability, great environmental compatibility, good foaming properties, and stable activity at extreme pH [ 31 , 32 , 33 ]. Other advantages are the possibility of producing them on renewable media at low cost and of modifying their chemical composition (for example, by means of genetic engineering applied to producing microorganisms) to meet specific functional needs [ 31 , 34 , 35 ].…”

“…These amphiphilic molecules of microbial origin share a pronounced surface activity leading to a reduction of surface tension at the interfaces of phases with dissimilar polarities (liquid–air, liquid–liquid, or liquid–solid) [ 36 , 37 ]. Among them, rhamnolipids are particularly important for applications in the biomedical and technological fields [ 30 , 31 ]. They are mainly produced by P. aeruginosa strains and are constituted by a complex mixture of congeners comprising either one (for mono-rhamnolipids) or two (for di-rhamnolipids) molecules of rhamnose glycosidically linked to a dimer of 3-hydroxy fatty acids varying in chain length [ 38 ].…”

Fungal biosurfactants, from nature to biotechnological product: bioprospection, production and potential applications

“…Detergents containing biosurfactant produced from Cunninghamella echinulata has also been tested for use in the chemical-textile industry, as they promoted cleaning and removal of motor oil (86%) in cotton fabric, maintaining the stability of the structural integrity of the fibre [ 254 ]. The use of biosurfactants in biomedical, therapeutic and pharmaceutical application have been recently reviewed highlighting potential applications in cleaning handwash formulations and plastic and fabric surface coating agents useful for combating microbial infections [ 301 ].…”

Counter-Acting Candida albicans-Staphylococcus aureus Mixed Biofilm on Titanium Implants Using Microbial Biosurfactants

“…Biosurfactants (BS) are natural molecules of microbial origin that, thanks to their low toxicity and high biocompatibility, have emerged as potential coating agents of medical devices to prevent their colonization. BS have shown interesting antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral and anti-adhesive properties that can be applied in medical and pharmaceutical fields as an alternative to conventional synthetic therapeutic agents [ 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 ]. Due to their amphiphilic structure and surface activity, BS can modify the chemical-physical properties of the surfaces, hindering microbial adhesion and biofilm formation on the devices [ 46 , 47 ].…”