Unlocking the potential of biosurfactants: Innovations in metabolic and genetic engineering for sustainable industrial and environmental solutions

Abstract

Biosurfactants, synthesized by microorganisms, hold potential for various industrial and environmental applications due to their surface-active properties and biodegradability. Metabolic and genetic engineering strategies enhance biosurfactant production by modifying microbial pathways and genetics. Strategies include optimizing biosurfactant biosynthesis pathways, expanding substrate utilization, and improving stress responses. Genetic engineering allows customization of biosurfactant characteristics to meet industrial needs. Notable examples include engineering Pseudomonas aeruginosa for enhanced rhamnolipid production and creating synthetic biosurfactant pathways in non-native hosts like Escherichia coli. CRISPR-Cas9 technology offers precise tools for genetic manipulation, enabling targeted gene disruption and promoter optimization to enhance biosurfactant production efficiency. Synthetic promoters enable precise control over biosurfactant gene expression, contributing to pathway optimization across diverse microbial hosts. The future of biosurfactant research includes sustainable bio-processing, customized biosurfactant engineering, and integration of artificial intelligence and systems biology. Advances in genetic and metabolic engineering will enable tailor-made biosurfactants for diverse applications, with potential for industrial-scale production and commercialization. Exploration of untapped microbial diversity may lead to novel biosurfactants with unique properties, expanding the versatility and sustainability of biosurfactant-based solutions.