Beyond the freeze: unveiling the role of biosurfactant from polar regions in sustainable biotechnology applications—a review
摘要
Biosurfactants are surface active, most versatile amphipathic molecules derived primarily from a variety of microorganisms. They are the best adaptable bioproducts used in industrial processes due to their tension-active and emulsifying properties. They are utilized in many facets of modern industrial sectors including petroleum, food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and medical applications. In light of their distinctive qualities and applications, biosurfactants from extreme environmental conditions especially polar region have gained a lot of scrutiny among the large variety of biosurfactants. The extreme Arctic and Antarctic habitats host psychrophilic and psychrotolerant microorganisms that have evolved distinct physiological and metabolic adaptations to withstand subzero temperatures, dryness, and nutrient scarcity. Among these adaptations, the synthesis of biosurfactants from low-temperature regions stands out for its ability to maintain surface activity, emulsification capacity, and structural stability where conventional surfactants lose functionality and efficacy. The research on biosurfactants from polar microorganisms is still in the nascent stages. Exploration of these molecules not only expands scientific knowledge of extremophile biology but also uncovers novel cold-active biomolecules with significant ecological, industrial, and economic relevance. In order to fill this knowledge vacuum, the current work highlights the richness of biosurfactants generated in cold environments, with special reference to the potential uses of these compounds in industries. In addition to offering a comprehensive overview of the literature, this review emphasizes the role of the extreme cryosphere like polar regions in the discovery of novel biosurfactants, their production, characteristics, future prospects, and recent advances of biosurfactants in a wide range of biotechnological applications.