Gemini surfactants from natural amino acids

•Gemini surfactants with amino acids or peptides as headgroups or in the spacer.•Gemini surfactants with high efficiency and excellent biocompatibility.•The presence of proton donor/acceptor groups further reduces surface tension cmc values.•In vitro toxicity tests are useful but not conclusive.•In vivo tests must be conducted for surfactants developed for human consumers.

In this review, we report the most important contributions in the structure, synthesis, physicochemical (surface adsorption, aggregation and phase behaviour) and biological properties (toxicity, antimicrobial activity and biodegradation) of Gemini natural amino acid-based surfactants, and some potential applications, with an emphasis on the use of these surfactants as non-viral delivery system agents. Gemini surfactants derived from basic (Arg, Lys), neutral (Ser, Ala, Sar), acid (Asp) and sulphur containing amino acids (Cys) as polar head groups, and Geminis with amino acids/peptides in the spacer chain are reviewed.

Graphical abstractThe substitution of alkyl dimethyl ammonium head groups by amino acids gives cationic Gemini surfactants with high efficiency and excellent biocompatibilityFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide