Biomimetic surfactants for tunable interfacial properties in drug delivery, biomedical coatings and tissue engineering

Biomimetic surfactants have emerged as a powerful class of interfacial agents designed to mimic biological amphiphiles, offering tunable physicochemical properties for drug delivery and biomedical coatings. This review explores the fundamental characteristics of biomimetic surfactants, comparing their advantages over synthetic and natural counterparts in modulating interfacial behaviors such as surface tension reduction, wettability control, and self-assembly into micellar structures. The role of surfactants in stabilizing lipid-based nanocarriers, polymer-surfactant hybrids, and bioinspired drug delivery systems is examined, highlighting their ability to enhance solubility, bioavailability, and targeted therapeutic delivery. Additionally, integrating surfactants into biomedical coatings has demonstrated significant potential in antifouling, antibacterial, and hemocompatible applications, crucial for implant safety, wound healing, and tissue engineering. Computational modeling, including molecular dynamics simulations, alongside experimental characterization techniques such as FTIR, DLS, TEM, and AFM, are pivotal in optimizing surfactant design for enhanced performance. Despite their promising applications, challenges remain in achieving stability, scalability, and regulatory approval for clinical translation. Future advancements in multifunctional and stimuli-responsive surfactants could revolutionize biomedical engineering, enabling next-generation drug delivery platforms and bioactive coatings. This review provides a comprehensive insight into the current progress, challenges, and future perspectives of biomimetic surfactants, paving the way for innovative and clinically viable solutions in biomedical applications.