Role of Biosurfactants in Nature, and Biotechnological Applications

Abstract

In nature, biosurfactants are amphiphilic molecules, capable to emulsify and decrease surface tension water, mainly glycolipids are the most known and studied produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These compounds are produced by microorganisms (bacteria, actinomycetes and fungi) who has genes, metabolic pathways and as a consequence are physiologically adapted in order to uptake organic matter non-soluble. Recently, the interest for its biotechnological production has increased, because of their environmental, industrial, and pharmaceutical applications, and others. Through microbial biodiversity exploration, on terrestrial or aquatic environments polluted with persistant organic compounds non-soluble in water, is possible to isolate microorganisms with tensoactive properties and capable to biodegrade pollutants. This can be done by use of selective culture media, tensoactive tests and molecular tools. Biosurfactants are promising products and actually some commercial products are applied and patented.

Determining the potential use of biosurfactants in preventing endodontic infections

“…Lp ‐BS production was greatest during the mid‐exponential growth phase, suggesting that production is related to bacteria in the growth phase. The observed progressive reduction in biosurfactant production across the stationary phase may be due to the consumption and limitation of important nutritional elements or because L. plantarum biomass had reached a critical density that negatively influenced biosurfactant production [ 34 ]. The ability to produce biosurfactant in a nutrient‐limited environment has relevance for the use of probiotics within the nutrient‐limited endodontic canals.…”

Production and characterization of rhamnolipids by Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated in the Amazon region, and potential antiviral, antitumor, and antimicrobial activity

“…An important characteristic of P. aeruginosa, reported in the literature, is its ability to produce BS. However, its function for bacterial cells is still not fully understood 27 ; some physiological applications have been suggested, such as solubilization of insoluble substrates, adhesion to interfaces in natural ecosystems, and metal complexation, as a form of adaptation of microorganisms in metal-rich environments, to reduce or inhibit cellular toxicity 28 . Bonds between metal and BS micelles can occur by attraction between anionic BS and non-ionic metallic forms, or by the formation of chelates on the surface of micelles 1 .…”