Bacillus ‐Derived Lipopeptides as Green Biosurfactants: Structures, Functions, Production, and Safety for Sustainable Applications

Lipopeptides (LPs), primarily produced by Bacillus species, are amphiphilic molecules consisting of hydrophilic peptide chains linked to hydrophobic fatty acids, conferring excellent surface-active properties. As environmentally friendly biosurfactants, LPs exhibit advantages over synthetic counterparts, including biodegradability, low toxicity, and high biocompatibility. Despite increasing research interest, existing reviews often address classification, functionality, and production separately, lacking an integrated perspective. This review provides a comprehensive and integrative framework linking LP structure, function, production strategies, and safety within a sustainability-oriented context. LPs are systematically classified based on biosynthetic pathways (ribosomal and nonribosomal) and structural features (cyclic and linear), with particular emphasis on surfactin, iturin, and fengycin. Their interfacial properties, including surface tension reduction, emulsification, and self-assembly, are discussed alongside diverse bioactivities such as antimicrobial, antibiofilm, antioxidant, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer effects, highlighting key structure-activity relationships. From a production perspective, recent advances in fermentation optimization, genetic engineering, and downstream processing are critically evaluated, with emphasis on cost-effectiveness, scalability, and agro-industrial waste valorization within the circular bioeconomy framework. In addition, safety aspects, including toxicological evaluation, biocompatibility, and regulatory considerations, are systematically summarized. Overall, this review bridges the gap between molecular understanding and industrial application, providing insights into the sustainable development of LPs as green alternatives to conventional surfactants.