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Marine Drugs
Special Issues
Marine Biorefinery for Bioactive Compounds Production
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Marine Biorefinery for Bioactive Compounds Production

A special issue of Marine Drugs (ISSN 1660-3397). This special issue belongs to the section "Marine Biotechnology Related to Drug Discovery or Production".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2025 | Viewed by 4160

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Guangling Jiao

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Investment Associate, Invest Nova Scotia, Halifax, NS, Canada
2. Department of Process Engineering and Applied Science, Faculty of Engineering, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada
Interests: natural health products; bioprocessing; green technologies; bioactive compounds; marine biotech; circular economy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Yulin Hu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Assistant Professor, Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, PE, Canada
Interests: biomass valorization; value-added bioproducts; circular bioeconomy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,                

We are excited to present a Special Issue of Marine Drugs dedicated to “Marine Biorefinery for Bioactive Compounds Production”. This Special Issue will spotlight the transformative potential of marine resources in the production of bioactive compounds, highlighting both established and emerging techniques in marine biorefinery. Marine organisms are renowned for their diverse and unique biochemical properties, offering a rich source of compounds with significant pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, agricultural, engineering, and industrial applications.

Our aim is to showcase innovative research that addresses the complexities of marine biorefinery processes, including the efficient extraction, characterization, sustainable production and application of these valuable compounds. We seek contributions that provide new insights into the utilization of marine resources, advancements in biotechnological methods, and the development of novel applications that can drive the future of marine-derived bioactive compounds. In addition, recent developments in process scale-up, industrialization, and commercial utilization regarding marine resource-derived bioactive compounds will also be covered in this Special Issue.

Researchers are invited to submit original research articles, comprehensive reviews, and insightful case studies that contribute to the advancement of marine biorefinery technologies and their applications. By participating in this Special Issue, you will join a vibrant scientific community dedicated to harnessing the full potential of marine resources for sustainable and impactful innovations.

Dr. Guangling Jiao
Dr. Yulin Hu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Marine Drugs is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • marine biorefinery
  • bioactive compounds
  • marine biotechnology
  • sustainable production
  • marine natural products
  • extraction technologies
  • biochemical characterization
  • pharmaceutical applications
  • nutraceuticals
  • process scale-up and intensification
  • industrial applications
  • life cycle assessment

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 3538 KiB  
Article
Rational High-Throughput System for Screening Emodin High-Yielding Mutant from Marine Strains of Aspergillus flavipes HN4-13
by Lizhi Gong, Zixuan Li, Meina Xu, Yushan Zhou, Wenqing Zhang, Jian Zhao, Xiujuan Xin and Faliang An
Mar. Drugs 2025, 23(4), 174; https://doi.org/10.3390/md23040174 - 16 Apr 2025
Viewed by 273
Abstract
Emodin is an anthraquinone compound known for its diverse biological activities, including anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory effects, making it highly applicable in the fields of biology and medicine. The production of emodin using microorganisms represents a sustainable and environmentally friendly approach. A marine-derived Aspergillus [...] Read more.
Emodin is an anthraquinone compound known for its diverse biological activities, including anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory effects, making it highly applicable in the fields of biology and medicine. The production of emodin using microorganisms represents a sustainable and environmentally friendly approach. A marine-derived Aspergillus flavipes HN4-13 was found to produce emodin, but the yield was too low for industrial production. To develop a high-yielding emodin-producing strain, we established the high-through detection and screening methods of alkaline coloration and deep-well plant culture, enabling the effective selection of high-yielding strains. Following ARTP mutagenesis of the wild strain A. flavipes HN4-13, the resulting mutant strain, M1440, exhibited an increased emodin yield of 124.6 ± 4.95 mg/L. Furthermore, the production of the emodin was enhanced by the exogenous addition of metal ions Mn2+ to the medium. Specifically, the addition of 3 mM Mn2+ resulted in a 133.2% increase in emodin production, with the highest yield reaching 178.6 ± 7.80 mg/L. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Biorefinery for Bioactive Compounds Production)
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10 pages, 1321 KiB  
Article
Influence of Silicate Concentrations on Growth, Carotenoid, and Fatty Acid Profiles of the Marine Diatom Conticribra weissflogii
by David Kwame Amenorfenyo, Feng Li, Xiangyu Rui, Xianghu Huang and Changling Li
Mar. Drugs 2024, 22(11), 504; https://doi.org/10.3390/md22110504 - 6 Nov 2024
Viewed by 1384
Abstract
Enhancing microalgal growth and bioactive compound production is becoming a duty for improving photosynthetic microorganisms. In this study, the growth, carotenoid, and fatty acid profiles of Conticribra weissflogii were studied under four different silicate concentrations and silicate-deficient conditions in an f/2 medium with [...] Read more.
Enhancing microalgal growth and bioactive compound production is becoming a duty for improving photosynthetic microorganisms. In this study, the growth, carotenoid, and fatty acid profiles of Conticribra weissflogii were studied under four different silicate concentrations and silicate-deficient conditions in an f/2 medium with continuous aeration, light intensity (30 ± 2 µmol m−2 s−1), salinity (25 ± 2‰), pH (8), and temperature (25 ± 2 °C). At the end of the experiment, we observed that a silicate concentration of 120 mg L−1 produced the maximum biomass dry weight (0.86 g L−1), carotenoid content (1.63 µg mL−1), and fucoxanthin content (1.23 mg g−1) in C. weissflogii. The eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) (11,354.37 µg g−1), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (2516.16 µg g−1), gamma-linolenic acid (C18:3n6) (533.51 µg g−1), and arachidonic acid (C20:4n6) (1261.83 µg g−1) contents were significantly higher at Si 120 mg L−1. The results further showed the maximum fatty acid content in C. weissflogii at Si 120 mg L−1. However, the silicate-deficient conditions (Si 0 mg L−1) resulted in higher levels of saturated fatty acids (38,038.62 µg g−1). This study presents a practical approach for the large-scale optimization of biomass, carotenoid, fucoxanthin, and fatty acid production in C. weissflogii for commercial purposes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Biorefinery for Bioactive Compounds Production)
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18 pages, 8761 KiB  
Article
Encapsulation of Microalgae Tisochrysis lutea Extract in Nanostructured Lipid Carriers (NLCs) and Evaluation of Their Sunscreen, Wound Healing, and Skin Hydration Properties
by Natalia Chatzopoulou, Chrysi Chaikali, Eleni Mourkogianni, Constantinos M. Mikelis, Vasilis Andriopoulos, Michael Kornaros, Konstantinos Avgoustakis, Fotini N. Lamari and Sophia Hatziantoniou
Mar. Drugs 2024, 22(11), 487; https://doi.org/10.3390/md22110487 - 30 Oct 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1677
Abstract
Traditional sunscreens have relied on synthetic compounds to protect against harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation. However, there is increasing interest in utilizing the natural photoprotective properties of microalgae extracts. This approach does not only aim to enhance the stability and efficacy of sun protection [...] Read more.
Traditional sunscreens have relied on synthetic compounds to protect against harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation. However, there is increasing interest in utilizing the natural photoprotective properties of microalgae extracts. This approach does not only aim to enhance the stability and efficacy of sun protection formulae but also seeks to reduce the reliance on synthetic sunscreens. This study investigates the encapsulation of Tisochrysis lutea extract (TL) in nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) to create a combination (NLC-TL) with enhanced physicochemical stability, antioxidant activity, SPF efficacy, wound healing capacity, and skin hydration. The particle size and ζ-potential were approximately 100 nm and −50 mV, respectively, and both formulations successfully passed the stability tests. The antioxidant activity, measured via DPPH assay, revealed that NLC-TL achieved the highest free radical scavenging activity across all tested concentrations, indicating a synergistic effect. The incorporation of TL in NLCs maintained the sun protection factor (SPF) of a 2% extract solution (1.53 ± 0.13). The wound healing assay indicated that NLC-TLs significantly enhanced wound closure compared to controls and TL alone. Additionally, skin hydration tests on healthy volunteers revealed that NLC-TLs provided superior and sustained hydration effects. These results highlight NLC-TLs’ potential as a multifunctional topical agent for cosmetic and therapeutic applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Biorefinery for Bioactive Compounds Production)
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Review

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28 pages, 2231 KiB  
Review
Diversity of Bioactive Compounds in Microalgae: Key Classes and Functional Applications
by Maslin Osathanunkul, Suebsuya Thanaporn, Lefkothea Karapetsi, Georgia Maria Nteve, Emmanouil Pratsinakis, Eleni Stefanidou, Giorgos Lagiotis, Eleni Avramidou, Lydia Zorxzobokou, Georgia Tsintzou, Artemis Athanasiou, Sofia Mpelai, Constantinos Constandinidis, Panagiota Pantiora, Marián Merino, José Luis Mullor, Luka Dobrovic, Leonardo Cerasino, Tomohisa Ogawa, Meropi Tsaousi, Alexandre M. C. Rodrigues, Helena Cardoso, Rita Pires, Daniel Figueiredo, Inês F. Costa, Catarina Anjos, Nikolaos E. Labrou and Panagiotis Madesisadd Show full author list remove Hide full author list
Mar. Drugs 2025, 23(6), 222; https://doi.org/10.3390/md23060222 - 22 May 2025
Viewed by 367
Abstract
Microalgae offer a sustainable and versatile source of bioactive compounds. Their rapid growth, efficient CO2 utilization, and adaptability make them a promising alternative to traditional production methods. Key compounds, such as proteins, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), polyphenols, phytosterols, pigments, and mycosporine-like amino [...] Read more.
Microalgae offer a sustainable and versatile source of bioactive compounds. Their rapid growth, efficient CO2 utilization, and adaptability make them a promising alternative to traditional production methods. Key compounds, such as proteins, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), polyphenols, phytosterols, pigments, and mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs), hold significant commercial value and are widely utilized in food, nutraceuticals, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals, driving innovation across multiple industries. Their antiviral and enzyme-producing capabilities further enhance industrial and medical applications. Additionally, microalgae-based biostimulants and plant elicitor peptides (PEPs) contribute to sustainable agriculture by enhancing plant growth and resilience to environmental stressors. The GRAS status of several species facilitates market integration, but challenges in scaling and cost reduction remain. Advances in biotechnology and metabolic engineering will optimize production, driving growth in the global microalgae industry. With increasing consumer demand for natural, eco-friendly products, microalgae will play a vital role in health, food security, and environmental sustainability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Biorefinery for Bioactive Compounds Production)
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