Potential therapeuti biosurfactants, R f Bi IIT) Review

compounds are superior to synthetic surfactants, owing to their microbial origin, biodegradability, and low toxicity [1]. For that reason they have been widely studied for applications in food and cosmetics industries, enhanced oil recovery, and bioremediation [1]. They are generally classified as low (including glycolipids and lipopeptides) and high molecular weight (polysaccharides, proteins, found to induce apoptosis in breast cancer cells [9]. Similar-ly, the glycolipids mannosylerythritol lipids (MELs) and succinoyl trehalose lipids (STLs) have been involved in growth arrest and apoptosis of tumor cells [10–12]. Many other therapeutic applications have been sug-gested for biosurfactants including novel and attractive uses in nanotechnology mainly based on their flexible self-assembling [13]. For example, a liposome vector containing b-sitosterol b-D-glucoside biosurfactant-complexed DNA was successfully used for herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene therapy [14]. More recently, nanovectors con-taining a biosurfactant have been used to increase the efficacy of gene transfection in vitro and in vivo [15]. Nevertheless, although it seems clear that biosurfac-tants are valuable, multipurpose, and useful molecules for therapeutic uses, some may constitute a risk for humans and should be carefully scrutinized. For example, it is 0165-6147/ $ – see front matte