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Firincă C, Zamfir LG, Constantin M, Răut I, Jecu ML, Doni M, Gurban AM, Șesan TE. Innovative Approaches and Evolving Strategies in Heavy Metal Bioremediation: Current Limitations and Future Opportunities. J Xenobiot 2025; 15:63. [PMID: 40407527 PMCID: PMC12101164 DOI: 10.3390/jox15030063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2025] [Revised: 03/21/2025] [Accepted: 04/23/2025] [Indexed: 05/26/2025] Open
Abstract
Decades of technological advancements have led to major environmental concerns, particularly the bioaccumulation of heavy metals, which pose persistent risks to ecosystems and human health. Consequently, research has increasingly shifted from conventional remediation techniques toward more sustainable, environmentally friendly solutions. This review explores recent advancements, ongoing challenges, and future perspectives in the field of bioremediation, emphasizing its potential as a green technology for heavy metal decontamination. Despite significant progress, key challenges remain, including scalability limitations and the management of bioremediation by-products, along with the influence of regulatory policies and public perception on its large-scale implementation. Emerging approaches such as genetic engineering and nanotechnology show promise in overcoming these limitations. Gene editing allows the tailoring of specific metabolic traits for bioprocesses targeted towards increased tolerance to pollutants and higher biodegradation efficiency, higher enzymatic specificity and affinity, and improved yield and fitness in plants. Nanotechnologies, particularly biogenic nanostructures, open up the possibility of repurposing waste materials as well as harnessing the advantages of the biosynthesis of NPs with higher stability, biocompatibility, and biostimulant capacities. Furthermore, biopolymers and bio-based nanocomposites can improve the efficiency and costs of bioremediation protocols. Even so, further research is essential to evaluate their long-term risks and feasibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Firincă
- Biotechnology Department, National Institute for Research & Development in Chemistry and Petrochemistry—ICECHIM, 202 Spl. Independenței, 060021 Bucharest, Romania; (C.F.)
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 91–95 Spl. Independenței, 050095 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Lucian-Gabriel Zamfir
- Biotechnology Department, National Institute for Research & Development in Chemistry and Petrochemistry—ICECHIM, 202 Spl. Independenței, 060021 Bucharest, Romania; (C.F.)
| | - Mariana Constantin
- Biotechnology Department, National Institute for Research & Development in Chemistry and Petrochemistry—ICECHIM, 202 Spl. Independenței, 060021 Bucharest, Romania; (C.F.)
| | - Iuliana Răut
- Biotechnology Department, National Institute for Research & Development in Chemistry and Petrochemistry—ICECHIM, 202 Spl. Independenței, 060021 Bucharest, Romania; (C.F.)
| | - Maria-Luiza Jecu
- Biotechnology Department, National Institute for Research & Development in Chemistry and Petrochemistry—ICECHIM, 202 Spl. Independenței, 060021 Bucharest, Romania; (C.F.)
| | - Mihaela Doni
- Biotechnology Department, National Institute for Research & Development in Chemistry and Petrochemistry—ICECHIM, 202 Spl. Independenței, 060021 Bucharest, Romania; (C.F.)
| | - Ana-Maria Gurban
- Biotechnology Department, National Institute for Research & Development in Chemistry and Petrochemistry—ICECHIM, 202 Spl. Independenței, 060021 Bucharest, Romania; (C.F.)
| | - Tatiana Eugenia Șesan
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 91–95 Spl. Independenței, 050095 Bucharest, Romania
- Field Crop Section, Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Bd Maraști 61, 011464 Bucharest, Romania
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Andreolli M, Villanova V, Zanzoni S, D'Onofrio M, Vallini G, Secchi N, Lampis S. Characterization of trehalolipid biosurfactant produced by the novel marine strain Rhodococcus sp. SP1d and its potential for environmental applications. Microb Cell Fact 2023; 22:126. [PMID: 37443119 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-023-02128-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Biosurfactants are surface-active compounds with environmental and industrial applications. These molecules show higher biocompatibility, stability and efficiency compared to synthetic surfactants. On the other hand, biosurfactants are not cost-competitive to their chemical counterparts. Cost effective technology such as the use of low-cost substrates is a promising approach aimed at reducing the production cost. This study aimed to evaluate the biosurfactant production and activity by the novel strain Rhodococcus sp. SP1d by using different growth substrates. Therefore, to exploit the biosurfactant synthesized by SP1d for environmental applications, the effect of this compound on the bacteria biofilm formation was evaluated. Eventually, for a possible bioremediation application, the biosurfactant properties and its chemical characteristics were investigated using diesel as source of carbon. RESULTS Rhodococcus sp. SP1d evidence the highest similarity to Rhodococcus globerulus DSM 43954T and the ability to biosynthesize surfactants using a wide range of substrates such as exhausted vegetable oil, mineral oil, butter, n-hexadecane, and diesel. The maximum production of crude biosurfactant after 10 days of incubation was reached on n-hexadecane and diesel with a final yield of 2.38 ± 0.51 and 1.86 ± 0.31 g L- 1 respectively. Biosurfactants produced by SP1d enhanced the biofilm production of P. protegens MP12. Moreover, the results showed the ability of SP1d to produce biosurfactants on diesel even when grown at 10 and 18 °C. The biosurfactant activity was maintained over a wide range of NaCl concentration, pH, and temperature. A concentration of 1000 mg L- 1 of the crude biosurfactant showed an emulsification activity of 55% towards both xylene and olive oil and a reduction of 25.0 mN m- 1 of surface tension of water. Eventually, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy indicated that the biosurfactant is formed by trehalolipids. CONCLUSIONS The use of low-cost substrates such as exhausted oils and waste butter reduce both the costs of biosurfactant synthesis and the environmental pollution due to the inappropriate disposal of these residues. High production yields, stability and emulsification properties using diesel and n-hexadecane as substrates, make the biosurfactant produced by SP1d a sustainable biocompound for bioremediation purpose. Eventually, the purified biosurfactant improved the biofilm formation of the fungal antagonistic strain P. protegens MP12, and thus seem to be exploitable to increase the adherence and colonization of plant surfaces by this antagonistic strain and possibly enhance antifungal activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Andreolli
- VUCC-DBT Verona University Culture Collection, Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Strada le Grazie, 15, Verona, 37134, Italy.
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Strada le Grazie, 15, Verona, 37134, Italy.
| | - Valeria Villanova
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Serena Zanzoni
- Centro Piattaforme Tecnologiche, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Mariapina D'Onofrio
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Strada le Grazie, 15, Verona, 37134, Italy
| | - Giovanni Vallini
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Strada le Grazie, 15, Verona, 37134, Italy
| | - Nicola Secchi
- Eurovix S.p.A, Viale Mattei 17, Entratico, Bergamo, 24060, Italy
| | - Silvia Lampis
- VUCC-DBT Verona University Culture Collection, Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Strada le Grazie, 15, Verona, 37134, Italy
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Strada le Grazie, 15, Verona, 37134, Italy
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Freitas-Silva J, de Oliveira BFR, Dias GR, de Carvalho MM, Laport MS. Unravelling the sponge microbiome as a promising source of biosurfactants. Crit Rev Microbiol 2023; 49:101-116. [PMID: 35176944 DOI: 10.1080/1040841x.2022.2037507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Microbial surfactants are particularly useful in bioremediation and heavy metal removal from soil and aquatic environments, amongst other highly valued uses in different economic and biomedical sectors. Marine sponge-associated bacteria are well-known producers of bioactive compounds with a wide array of potential applications. However, little progress has been made on investigating biosurfactants produced by these bacteria, especially when compared with other groups of biologically active molecules harnessed from the sponge microbiome. Using a thorough literature search in eight databases, the purpose of the review was to compile the current knowledge on biosurfactants from sponge-associated bacteria, with a focus on their relevant biotechnological applications. From the publications between the years 1995 and 2021, lipopeptides and glycolipids were the most identified chemical classes of biosurfactants. Firmicutes was the dominant phylum of biosurfactant-producing strains, followed by Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria. Bioremediation led as the most promising application field for the studied surface-active molecules in sponge-derived bacteria, despite the reports endorsed their use as antimicrobial and antibiofilm agents. Finally, we appoint some key strategies to instigate the research appetite on the isolation and characterization of novel biosurfactants from the poriferan microbiome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jéssyca Freitas-Silva
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Bruno Francesco Rodrigues de Oliveira
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Instituto Biomédico, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Brazil
| | - Gabriel Rodrigues Dias
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Marinella Silva Laport
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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