Synthesis and properties of bioactive surfactants containing β-lactam ring

In this paper we report the synthesis of new molecules containing a β-lactam ring, a hydrophobic and a hydrophilic group. Physico-chemical studies demonstrated the surface activity of these new compounds and the formation of molecular organized systems for some of them. Moreover, aggressiveness of those molecules was evidence by hemolysis tests and cell cultures. A classification was made to distinguish several groups of β-lactams in accordance with their biocompatibility. A tridimensional relation (structure/physico-chemical properties/biological properties) was therefore found out. The selective and significant antibiotic activity of those β-lactams clearly showed that they were not only surfactants but biosurfactants.