title: Potential therapeutic applications of biosurfactants.
abstract: Biosurfactants have recently emerged as promising molecules for their structural novelty, versatility, and diverse properties that are potentially useful for many therapeutic applications. Mainly due to their surface activity, these molecules interact with cell membranes of several organisms and/or with the surrounding environments, and thus can be viewed as potential cancer therapeutics or as constituents of drug delivery systems. Some types of microbial surfactants, such as lipopeptides and glycolipids, have been shown to selectively inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells and to disrupt cell membranes causing their lysis through apoptosis pathways. Moreover, biosurfactants as drug delivery vehicles offer commercially attractive and scientifically novel applications. This review covers the current state-of-the-art in biosurfactant research for therapeutic purposes, providing new directions towards the discovery and development of molecules with novel structures and diverse functions for advanced applications.
authors.affiliation: IBB - Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.
authors.forename: Eduardo J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Gudiña
authors.forename: Vivek
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rangarajan
authors.forename: Ramkrishna
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sen
authors.forename: Lígia R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D004655:Emulsions / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D004655:Emulsions; D013501:Surface-Active Agents
keywords: antitumor agents; biosurfactants; drug delivery systems; therapeutic applications