Expansion of targeted drug-delivery systems using microbially sources biosurfactant

Abstract

Microbial biosurfactants have been emerging as promising compounds for drug-delivery systems (DDS) advances. They can be formed using diverse classes of microorganisms, being versatile biocompounds with specific surface characteristics. When compared to chemical surfactants, good biodegradability, small toxicity, and potential biological activity are the key advantages of biosurfactants. Moreover, these compounds can easily interact with cell membranes and surrounding environments, making biosurfactants potential constituents of drug delivery vehicles. This book chapter highlights the actual status of surfactants from microorganisms, namely glycolipids such as rhamnolipids, mannosylerythritol lipids, sophorolipids, and succinoyl trehalose lipids, and lipopeptides such as surfactin in DDS, with a special focus on liposomes, niosomes, and nanoparticles.