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Marine Drugs
Volume 23
Issue 6
10.3390/md23060225
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Aphanizomenon flos-aquae: A Biorefinery for Health and Energy—Unleashing Phycocyanin’s Power and Biogas Potential

by
Pilar Águila-Carricondo
1,2,*,
Raquel García-García
1,
Juan Pablo de la Roche
2,
Pedro Luis Galán
2,
Luis Fernando Bautista
3,4,
Juan J. Espada
1 and
Gemma Vicente
1,4,*
1
Department of Chemical, Energy and Mechanical Technology, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, C/Tulipán s/n, 28933 Móstoles, Spain
2
Microalgae Solutions S.L., Factoría Industrial de Vicálvaro, Nave 5, 28052 Madrid, Spain
3
Department of Chemical and Environmental Technology, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, C/Tulipán s/n, 28933 Móstoles, Spain
4
Instituto de Tecnologías para la Sostenibilidad, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, C/Tulipán s/n, 28933 Móstoles, Spain
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Mar. Drugs 2025, 23(6), 225; https://doi.org/10.3390/md23060225
Submission received: 14 April 2025 / Revised: 19 May 2025 / Accepted: 22 May 2025 / Published: 24 May 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Algae-Powered Skincare: Innovations in Marine-Derived Cosmeceuticals)
Versions Notes

Abstract

This study presents a biorefinery approach for Aphanizomenon flos-aquae, demonstrating its potential as a dual source for phycocyanin and biogas. The antioxidant capacity of the extract was evaluated using the ABTS•+ assay, while flow cytometry determined its cytotoxic effects on breast cancer (HCC1806) and brain glioma (U-118 MG) cell lines, comparing pure C-phycocyanin to the non-purified extract. The non-purified extract scavenged 77% of ABTS•+ radicals at 2.4 mg/mL, compared to 22% for pure C-phycocyanin. In U-118 MG cells, pure C-phycocyanin accounted for 55.5% of the 29.9 ± 6.1% total mortality observed with the non-purified extract at 0.75 mg/mL. HCC1806 cytotoxicity (80.9 ± 5.1% at 1 mg/mL) was attributed to synergistic effects of other extract components. The spent biomass was valorized through anaerobic digestion for biogas production, enhancing process sustainability. At a 2:1 inoculum-to-substrate ratio, the anaerobic digestion of the spent biomass yielded 447 ± 18 mL CH4/gVS, significantly higher than the 351 ± 19 mL CH4/gVS from the initial biomass. LCA estimated the environmental impacts of the A. flos-aquae biorefinery for phycocyanin production, targeting the cosmetic, food, and nutraceutical sectors, and highlighting the benefits of spent biomass valorization to produce biogas within a circular economy framework. This integrated approach demonstrates the potential of A. flos-aquae for the sustainable production of high-value compounds and renewable energy.
Keywords: Aphanizomenon flos-aquae; cyanobacteria; antioxidant; U-118 MG brain glioma cells; HCC1806 breast cancer cells; biomethane; biogas; biorefinery; LCA Aphanizomenon flos-aquae; cyanobacteria; antioxidant; U-118 MG brain glioma cells; HCC1806 breast cancer cells; biomethane; biogas; biorefinery; LCA

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MDPI and ACS Style

Águila-Carricondo, P.; García-García, R.; de la Roche, J.P.; Galán, P.L.; Bautista, L.F.; Espada, J.J.; Vicente, G. Aphanizomenon flos-aquae: A Biorefinery for Health and Energy—Unleashing Phycocyanin’s Power and Biogas Potential. Mar. Drugs 2025, 23, 225. https://doi.org/10.3390/md23060225

AMA Style

Águila-Carricondo P, García-García R, de la Roche JP, Galán PL, Bautista LF, Espada JJ, Vicente G. Aphanizomenon flos-aquae: A Biorefinery for Health and Energy—Unleashing Phycocyanin’s Power and Biogas Potential. Marine Drugs. 2025; 23(6):225. https://doi.org/10.3390/md23060225

Chicago/Turabian Style

Águila-Carricondo, Pilar, Raquel García-García, Juan Pablo de la Roche, Pedro Luis Galán, Luis Fernando Bautista, Juan J. Espada, and Gemma Vicente. 2025. "Aphanizomenon flos-aquae: A Biorefinery for Health and Energy—Unleashing Phycocyanin’s Power and Biogas Potential" Marine Drugs 23, no. 6: 225. https://doi.org/10.3390/md23060225

APA Style

Águila-Carricondo, P., García-García, R., de la Roche, J. P., Galán, P. L., Bautista, L. F., Espada, J. J., & Vicente, G. (2025). Aphanizomenon flos-aquae: A Biorefinery for Health and Energy—Unleashing Phycocyanin’s Power and Biogas Potential. Marine Drugs, 23(6), 225. https://doi.org/10.3390/md23060225

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