ABSTRACT

Lipopeptide molecules consist of a lipid and a peptide connected to each other. These molecules are produced by bacteria and can be self-assembled into various structures. The surging demand of lipopeptides by leaps has no boundaries because of their extensive utilization for human well-being. Amid the diversified category of biosurfactants, lipopeptides are taken into interest because they possess high surface activity and potential antibiotic activity against an array of pathogenic microorganisms. Polymyxin, the first lipopeptide, was isolated and discovered from Bacillus polymyxa in 1949. Lipopeptides induce oxidative stress, which leads to reactive oxygen species production in cancer cells treated by lipopeptides. Efficient targeting of cancer and tumor cells could be achieved by the conjugation of lipopeptides with tumor-specific surface-binding molecules. The compatibility with cell membrane, low molecular mass, biodegradability and eco-friendliness of lipopeptides put them in an interesting category of antibiotics.