Microbial Surfactants in Pharmaceuticals and Cosmetics

Biosurfactants and bioemulsifiers are considered green molecules as they are produced from microbes and are easily degradable as compared to surfactants. They are suitable due to properties such as low toxicity, tolerance to a wide-range pH level and temperature, high surface activity, biodegradability, excellent emulsifying and demulsifying ability. While, caution and care should be exercised in its widespread usage, they are likely to replace chemical surfactants.

The book focuses on biosurfactant production from various bacteria, diversity of biosurfactant producing bacteria, and the industrial need of biosurfactants. Fields such as pharmacy, medicine, and cosmetics are covered. It is presented in an easy-to-understand manner, and is well illustrated, and comprises protocols and recent data on the production, formulation and commercialization and other aspects of biosurfactants and bioemulsifiers.