Abstract

SOPHOROLIPIDS: IN SELF ASSEMBLY AND NANOMATERIAL SYNTHESIS

Parul Dubey¹, Kaliaperumal Selvaraj², Asmita Prabhune¹

ABSTRACT

Sophorolipids are biologically derived amphiphilic biosurfactants that have unique advantages such as environmental compatibility, high biodegradability, lower toxicity and mild production conditions etc., compared to their chemical counterparts. Their numerous advantages have prompted applications in cosmetics, food and pharmaceutical industries. Apart from excellent surface properties, due to their amphiphilic and structural properties, sophorolipids self assemble into various structures of different size and shapes depending upon factors such as the pH, time and temperature of the reaction mixture. Sophorolipids also demonstrate metal reducing and capping capabilities in one go which exerts greater control on the reaction parameters and condenses the step involved in synthesis of nanomaterials. Various aspects of their colloidal self assembly that remain incompletely understood are discussed along with their multi-utility as capping and reducing agents for nanoparticles.

Keywords: Sophorolipids, self-assembly, nanomaterials.