Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) have been touted recently as potential alternatives to ionic liquids (ILs). Although they possess core characteristics that are similar to those of ILs (e.g., low volatility, non-flammability, low melting points, low vapor pressure, dipolar nature, chemical and thermal stability, high solubility, and tuneability), DESs are superior in terms of the availability of raw materials, the ease of storage and synthesis, and the low cost of their starting materials. As such, they have become the subject of intensive research in various sectors, notably the chemical, electrochemical, and biological sectors. To date, the applications of DESs have shown great promise, especially in the medical and biotechnological fields. In spite of these various achievements, the safety concern for these mixtures must be sufficiently addressed. Indeed, in order to exploit the vast array of opportunities that DESs offer to the biological industry, first, they must be established as safe mixtures. Hence, the biotechnological applications of DESs only can be implemented if they are proven to have negligible or low toxicity profiles. This review is the first of its kind, and it discusses two current aspects of DES-based research. First, it describes the properties of these mixtures with ample focus on their toxicity profiles. Second, it provides an overview of the breakthroughs that have occurred and the foreseeable prospects of the use of DESs in various biotechnological and biological applications.

近来，人们大力宣传深共晶溶剂（DES）作为离子液体（IL）的潜在替代品。尽管它们具有与IL相似的核心特征（例如，低挥发性，不易燃性，低熔点，低蒸气压，偶极性质，化学和热稳定性，高溶解度和可调性），但DES在优势方面原材料的可用性，易于存储和合成以及原材料成本低廉。因此，它们已成为各个领域（尤其是化学，电化学和生物领域）的深入研究的主题。迄今为止，DES的应用已显示出巨大的希望，特别是在医学和生物技术领域。尽管取得了各种成就，但必须充分解决这些混合物的安全问题。确实，为了利用DES为生物工业提供的大量机会，首先，必须将它们建立为安全的混合物。因此，只有经证实DES的生物特性可忽略或低毒性时，才能实施DES的生物技术应用。这篇评论是同类文章中的第一篇，它讨论了基于DES的研究的两个当前方面。首先，它描述了这些混合物的特性，并充分关注了它们的毒性特征。其次，它概述了已发生的突破以及在各种生物技术和生物应用中使用DES的可预见前景。只有证明DES的生物特性可忽略不计或毒性低，才能实施DES的生物技术应用。这篇评论是同类文章中的第一篇，它讨论了基于DES的研究的两个当前方面。首先，它描述了这些混合物的特性，并充分关注了它们的毒性特征。其次，它概述了已发生的突破以及在各种生物技术和生物应用中使用DES的可预见前景。只有证明DES的生物特性可忽略不计或毒性低，才能实施DES的生物技术应用。这篇评论是同类文章中的第一篇，它讨论了基于DES的研究的两个当前方面。首先，它描述了这些混合物的特性，并充分关注了它们的毒性特征。其次，它概述了已发生的突破以及在各种生物技术和生物应用中使用DES的可预见前景。