胆盐(bile salts)是一类具有甾体骨架的生物表面活性剂, 在消化吸收、糖脂代谢调控等生理过程中发挥关键作用。胆盐独特的分子结构赋予其不同于经典表面活性剂的聚集性质和精妙的组装行为, 通过形成胶束促进脂质消化, 维持脂代谢稳态。此外, 胆盐也可通过与磷脂形成混合胶束促进药物溶解和吸收, 因其具有较好的生物相容性, 已被广泛用作药物吸收促进剂。然而, 胆盐胶束的化学结构及组装机理在学界仍存在较多争议。本文首先介绍胆盐的分子结构、聚集性质及其胶束结构的研究方法, 然后对胆盐单纯胶束与混合胶束结构的研究进展进行总结, 最后探讨胆盐胶束的生理学意义及潜在临床应用。揭示胆盐胶束结构不仅有助于深入理解胆盐在人体内生理功能的机理, 还为防治肥胖症、胆汁淤积等代谢性疾病提供理论基础, 并推动其在纳米药物递送等领域的创新应用。

Bile salts, a class of steroidal biosurfactants, play critical roles in lipid digestion and absorption, as well as the regulation of glycolipid metabolism. Their unique molecular structure confers them intriguing aggregation properties and assembly behaviors, distinct from those of classical surfactants. By forming micelles, they facilitate lipid digestion and maintain metabolic homeostasis. In addition, bile salts enhance drug dissolution and absorption through the formation of phospholipid mixed micelles, leveraging their biocompatibility for widespread use as drug absorption enhancers. However, the structure and assembly mechanism of bile salt micelles remain subjects of ongoing debate. This article introduces the molecular structure and aggregation properties of bile salts, as well as the analytical methods for their micellar structures. It summarizes the research progress on the structures of simple bile salt micelles and mixed micelles, and finally, discusses the physiological significance and potential clinical applications of bile salt micelles. Elucidating the structure of bile salt micelles is not only essential for deepening the understanding of their physiological roles, but also provides a theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of metabolic diseases (e.g., obesity, cholestasis), and supports their innovative applications in fields such as nanodrug delivery.