Sophorolipids - Versatile Roles and Utilizations of Eco-Friendly Biosurfactants

Sophorolipids (CAS - 148409-20-5) stand as a pioneering, eco-conscious, and 100% natural biosurfactant derived solely from yeast fermentation. This glycolipid compound boasts a sophorose head that loves water (hydrophilic) and a fatty acid tail that repels it (hydrophobic), granting it exceptional surface activity features including emulsification, wetting, dispersion, and minimal foaming.

 

Sophorolipids' gentle yet potent nature, coupled with their mild bactericidal properties, makes them a star in personal care products. They effectively combat acne-causing bacteria like Propionibacterium acnes and offer anti-inflammatory, skin-nourishing, and immune-balancing benefits. Beyond personal care, their applications span agriculture, food processing, medical formulations, and environmental protection. As a fully biodegradable bio-manufactured surfactant, sophorolipids uphold environmental standards. Their production does not involve chemical additives, relying instead on physical extraction and fermentation, thereby preserving their natural attributes.

 

 

 

 

Product Information

 

CAS No. - 148409-20-5

Molecular formula - C34H56O14

Molecular weight - 688.8

MDL No. - MFCD23704782

 

 

 

Sophorolipid Biological Efficacy

 

Skin Care and Cleansing:

Sophorolipids are incorporated into facial cleansers, shower gels, and shampoos due to their gentle nature. They effectively cleanse the skin and hair while minimizing irritation. With their moisturizing and water-retaining capabilities, they help maintain the skin's moisture balance and enhance its smoothness. Their low-foaming properties also make them a favored ingredient in eco-friendly cleansers.

 

Skin Health and Beauty:

Sophorolipids stimulate the metabolism of dermal fibroblasts and collagen synthesis, aiding in anti-aging and improving skin elasticity. They inhibit free radicals and elastase activity, thereby reducing skin aging. They also exhibit peeling and depigmenting effects, which can help improve uneven skin tone. By stimulating leptin synthesis, sophorolipids may contribute to reducing subcutaneous fat and potentially aid in weight loss.

 

Anti-inflammatory and Immune Regulation:

Sophorolipids demonstrate anti-inflammatory effects by reducing the mortality of septic peritonitis in rats through the regulation of nitric oxide and inflammatory cytokine production. They may also reduce IgE production by influencing plasma cell activity, positively impacting the immune system. At the cellular level, sophorolipids have the potential to activate macrophages and promote fibrinolysis, further bolstering the immune response.

 

Antimicrobial Effect:

Sophorolipids exhibit inhibitory effects on bacteria, fungi, and the biofilms they produce. For instance, they possess antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus xylosus, Streptococcus mutans, and Propionibacterium acnes. It is speculated that their antibacterial activity is contingent upon the bacterial cell wall structure; at a concentration of 2.5g/L, they can completely suppress the growth of Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Bacillus cereus. Their antibacterial mechanism involves disrupting the cell membrane structure.

 

Biomedical Applications:

Sophorolipids have shown inhibitory effects on various cancer cell lines, such as cervical cancer Hela cells and human liver cancer HepG2 cells, and they can induce apoptosis in these cells. The underlying mechanism may involve activating apoptosis pathways in cancer cells while inhibiting their mitosis, migration, and spread.

 

Environmentally Friendly Materials:

As dispersants and coagulants, sophorolipids are employed in industries like coatings and wastewater treatment. They promote uniform particle distribution, reduce VOC emissions, and enhance overall environmental performance.

 

In the Daily Chemical Industry

Sophorolipids, as a biosurfactant, shine in daily chemical products due to their exceptional surface activity, low toxicity, and excellent biocompatibility. Their applications within this industry encompass emulsifiers, moisturizers, and detergents.

 

Emulsifiers - Sophorolipids serve as effective emulsifiers in daily chemical products, stabilizing oil-water mixtures and preventing separation.

 

Moisturizers - With their outstanding moisturizing properties, sophorolipids are ideal for use in cosmetics as moisturizers. They assist in retaining skin moisture, minimizing water loss, and alleviating dry skin conditions.

 

Cleansing Agents - Leveraging their surface activity, sophorolipids excel as cleaning agents in products like dishwashing liquids. Their cleaning prowess helps remove grease and dirt while being gentle on the skin, thanks to their mild nature.

 

Gentleness and Safety - Sophorolipids are particularly well-suited for products catering to sensitive skin, given their low toxicity and biocompatibility. Studies indicate that they enhance skin barrier function, minimize skin irritation, and are safe for use on infants and children.

 

Environmental Friendliness - Sophorolipids are biodegradable and have a lesser environmental impact compared to traditional chemical surfactants. This aligns them with the current market trend towards green, sustainable products, making them an environmentally friendly option.

 

Sophorolipids find widespread use in daily chemical products, with their exceptional surface activity, moisturizing capabilities, gentleness, and environmental friendliness making them a standout biosurfactant.

 

In Oil Exploration, Pollution Control and Soil Remediation

Sophorolipids, a novel biosurfactant, have demonstrated extensive application potential in oil exploration, pollution control, and soil remediation, attributed to their renewable, biodegradable, and low-toxicity properties.

 

In oil extraction, sophorolipids exhibit significant degradation capabilities. Studies reveal that a final concentration of 1000 mg/L sophorolipids yields the highest petroleum degradation rate of 46.3%. Furthermore, sophorolipids reduce the need for chemicals in the oil production process, preventing secondary pollution to oil and reservoirs. This not only alleviates sewage treatment pressures but also cuts environmental protection costs, positioning sophorolipids as an economical and eco-friendly option for oil extraction.

 

Sophorolipids also excel in pollution control. Specifically, CB2107 sophorolipids, produced by yeast Candida albicans using 10 g/L glucose and 10 g/L rapeseed oil as carbon sources, show the best performance in cleaning aviation kerosene-contaminated soil. Lactone sophorolipids have also been used to rejuvenate petroleum-contaminated soil, with studies indicating a positive impact on soil microbial diversity.

 

Regarding soil remediation, sophorolipids prove equally effective. Through immobilization technology, sophorolipids enhance their petroleum degradation capabilities. Experiments show that immobilized sophorolipids efficiently remove petroleum pollution. Additionally, lactone sophorolipids have yielded promising results in engineering projects for repairing oil-contaminated soils.

 

In Medicine

Anticancer and Antiviral Activity - Sophorolipids exhibit inhibitory effects against a wide range of cancer cells by activating multiple apoptosis pathways and effectively blocking cancer cell mitosis, migration, and proliferation. Additionally, they demonstrate strong inhibitory activity against herpes virus and HIV, suggesting potential antiviral properties.

 

Drug Carriers and Nanoemulsion Preparation - Sophorolipids are utilized in the preparation of solid dispersions and nanoemulsions to enhance drug bioavailability. For instance, sophorolipids replaced Tween-80 in the formulation of etoposide nanoemulsions, resulting in improved drug loading capacity, stability, and extended drug half-life.

 

Research on Anti-Tumor Mechanism - Studies investigating the combined action of sophorolipids and doxorubicin have revealed a synergistic effect, enhancing the anti-tumor efficacy of doxorubicin.

 

Antibacterial Activity Research - Beyond their anticancer properties, sophorolipids also exhibit promising antibacterial activity, inhibiting the growth of various pathogenic bacteria.

 

In Environmental Protection

trokinetic Remediation of Chromium-Contaminated Soils - Research has demonstrated that sophorolipids can serve as effective synergists in the electrokinetic remediation of chromium-contaminated soils. The incorporation of sophorolipids significantly boosts the current intensity and accelerates the migration of Cr6+ towards the cathode, enhancing the removal efficiency of both Cr6+ and total chromium. The complexation-solubilization and competitive adsorption mechanisms of sophorolipids effectively increase the desorption rate of chromium ions from the soil matrix, thereby elevating their electromigration rate and overall removal efficacy.

 

Promoting the Formation of HCFC-141b Refrigerant Hydrates - Sophorolipids are employed to facilitate the formation of HCFC-141b refrigerant hydrates, a medium that plays a crucial role in reducing the peak-to-valley difference in power grid demand and enabling peak load regulation. Studies have revealed that the addition of an optimal quantity of lactone sophorolipids markedly shortens the induction period for HCFC-141b hydrate formation, enhances the randomness of hydrate nucleation, and increases the cold storage capacity.

 

Remediation of Petroleum-Contaminated Soil - Sophorolipids, in combination with other surfactants like sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) and sodium silicate (Na2SiO3), can effectively address the challenge of petroleum-contaminated soil. This surfactant blend exhibits robust synergistic interactions, achieving an elution rate of 87.37%.

 

Solubilization and Elution of Benzo pyrene - The combination of sophorolipids and saponins exhibits a significant solubilization effect on benzo[a]pyrene present in soil. Under controlled conditions, the elution rate of benzo[a]pyrene from simulated contaminated soil, using a sophorolipid-saponin solution, reaches 45.76%.

 

Electrokinetic Remediation of Heavy Metal Contaminated Soil - Sophorolipids demonstrate considerable potential in the electrokinetic remediation of heavy metal-contaminated soil. By fine-tuning parameters such as sophorolipid concentration, voltage, and treatment duration, the removal efficiency of heavy metal ions like Pb2+ and Cd2+ can be substantially enhanced.

 

Treatment of Oily Pollutants - Sophorolipids are utilized for the treatment of oily pollutants, including diesel-contaminated soil and oily sludge. Research indicates that sophorolipids effectively elevate the elution rate of diesel and the removal rate of oil from sludge, while simultaneously reducing soil organic content, thereby demonstrating notable environmental benefits.

 

In Food Industry

The application of sophorolipids in the food industry is primarily highlighted by their biosurfactant properties and their ability to enhance food processing and preservation techniques.

 

Antibacterial and Antiseptic Effects - Sophorolipids possess potent antibacterial qualities, effectively curbing the growth of decomposing fungi. Research has demonstrated their effectiveness in inhibiting a range of fungi that cause spoilage, particularly at higher concentrations, which significantly hinders hyphae expansion and spore formation. This antibacterial and antiseptic capability positions sophorolipids as a promising natural preservative, capable of extending food shelf life and mitigating spoilage during storage and transportation.

 

Preservation Effect - Beyond inhibiting microbial growth, sophorolipids can penetrate the waxy layer of fruit and vegetable skin through their lipophilic ends, exposing their hydrophilic tails to the air, thereby achieving a moisturizing effect.

 

Enhancement of Food Processing Quality - Sophorolipids also contribute to improving food processing quality. In bread-making, for instance, they serve as solubilizers and emulsifiers, enhancing the texture and flavor of the bread. Furthermore, their inclusion can elevate the nutritional value and health benefits of food; for example, adding sophorolipids to bread boosts its antioxidant activity.

 

Environmentally Friendly and Safe - Produced by yeast, sophorolipids are non-toxic, biodegradable, and eco-friendly, making their application in the food industry safer and more sustainable.

 

In summary, sophorolipids have significantly improved food processing and preservation processes through their antibacterial and antiseptic properties, preservation capabilities, enhancement of processing quality, and environmental friendliness.

 

In the Drug Carrier

The potential applications of sophorolipids in the field of nanotechnology mainly focus on improving the stability and bioavailability of drugs, and their application as biosurfactants in the preparation and modification of nanoparticles. Current research shows that sophorolipids have been successfully used in the preparation of a variety of nanoparticles, showing good biocompatibility and stability.

 

Drug delivery system - Sophorolipids are used as surfactants to prepare etoposide nanoemulsion injections, showing better physical stability than the traditional chemical surfactant Tween-80. In addition, sophorolipids are also used to prepare shikonin lipid nanoparticles, improving the water solubility, stability and bioavailability of shikonin.

 

Improved structure and properties of nanoparticles - Sophorolipids can improve the structure and properties of nanoparticles. For example, studies on zein-quercetin nanoparticles have shown that the addition of sophorolipids helps to form nanoparticles with better dispersibility and improves their antioxidant activity and antibacterial properties.

 

Antitumor activity - Sophorolipids have also been studied for the delivery of antitumor drugs. Nanohydroxyapatite loaded with sophorolipids showed good pharmaceutical activity against cervical cancer cells.

 

Biomedical Applications - The application of sophorolipids is not limited to drug delivery, but also extends to other biomedical fields. Studies on sophorocarpine solid lipid nanoparticles have shown that sophorolipids can be used to prepare targeted nanoparticles, thereby improving the anti-tumor effect.

 

In Agriculture

As Pesticide Adjuvant - Sophorolipids can serve as effective adjuvants for pesticides, enhancing their efficacy. In both crop and non-crop applications, sophorolipids can be utilized as additives in pesticide formulations to boost penetration and coverage of the active ingredients.

 

Environmental Friendliness and Biodegradability - Sophorolipids are characterized by their low toxicity, high biodegradability, and environmental compatibility, positioning them as an exemplary green alternative to traditional pesticides. Notably, sophorolipids demonstrate potent microbial reduction capabilities during fruit and vegetable washing. For instance, within 10 minutes, they can reduce the populations of Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli by over 90% and 99%, respectively.

 

Enhanced Crop Yields - Research has also investigated sophorolipids' potential to increase crop yields. A particular innovation involves using sophorolipids to elevate the productivity of cultivated plants, hinting at their promising applications in agricultural production.

 

 

References

 

1. Chen Jing et al. Inhibitory effect of lactone diacetyl sophorolipid on tumor cell K562. Journal of Applied and Environmental Biology, Issue 2, 2015

2. Wang Yu et al. Research progress of sophorolipids in the development of anticancer and antiviral drugs. Journal of Qilu University of Technology, 2023, No. 1

3. Wang Runa et al. Table of Contents The relationship between pH solubility and antitumor activity of sophorolipids and the preliminary study on the antitumor effect of the combination of sophorolipids and doxorubicin. Qilu University of Technology 2019

4. Li Zhengsong et al. Experimental study on electrokinetic remediation of chromium-contaminated soil by sophorolipid biosurfactant. Journal of Ocean University of China (Natural Science Edition), 2019, No. 7

5. Huang Meng et al. Lactone-type sophorolipids promote the formation of HCFC-141b hydrate. Chemical Industry Progress, 2024, No. 3

6. Wang Xiaofeng et al. Analysis of factors affecting the restoration of petroleum contaminated soil by sophorolipid-LAS-Na2SiO3 complex. Chemical Industry Progress, 2019, No. 6

7. Liang Peng et al. Catalog Sophorolipid biosurfactant enhances electrokinetic remediation of heavy metal contaminated soil. Ocean University of China, 2015

8. Chen Chen et al. Experimental study on the treatment of oil-containing pollutants with sophorolipids. Oil and Gas Field Environmental Protection, 2019

9. Yuan Bingbing et al. Inhibitory effect of microbial-derived sophorolipids on fruit spoilage fungi. Journal of Applied and Environmental Biology, 2011, No. 3

10. Wang Rongjie et al. Study on the performance of a mild cleaning composition containing sophorolipids. Journal of Daily Chemicals Science, 2024, No. 5

11. He Jie et al. Effects of tea saponin and sophorolipids on the formation and stability of shikonin lipid nanoparticles. Food Industry Science and Technology, 2024, No. 3

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