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Marine Drugs
Special Issues
Marine Algal Biotechnology and Applications
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Marine Algal Biotechnology and Applications

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: 15 June 2025 | Viewed by 4717

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Patrizia Casella

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department for Sustainability, ENEA—Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development—ENEA Portici, 80055 Portici, NA, Italy
Interests: biotechnologies; microbiology; biological sciences; sustainability; green chemicals
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Scientific interest in marine algae has grown considerably due to the ability to produce high-value molecules for various applications in many fields such as nutraceuticals, pharmaceutics, cosmetics, and animal nutrition. Furthermore, algae can be used in environmentally friendly biotechnological applications, i.e., water treatments, biofuels, and biomaterials production.

The greatest challenges for the development of biotechnology and applications of algae concern the discovery of new species and the optimization, feasibility, and cost-effectiveness of biotechnological processes.

This Special Issue on “Marine Algal Biotechnology and Applications” is focused on high-quality research papers and reviews that can increase knowledge on this topic. The Special Issue is an invitation to submit innovative studies on new microalgal and algal species and new biotechnological processes to implement the production of high-value compounds or for applications in health or cosmetic fields.

Dr. Patrizia Casella
Guest Editor

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

  • microalgae
  • seaweed
  • alternative protein sources
  • fatty acids
  • high value compounds
  • biofuels
  • biomaterials
  • sustainability
  • circularity
  • biotechnologies

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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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18 pages, 2724 KiB  
Article
Identification and Evaluation of Antioxidant and Anti-Aging Peptide Fractions from Enzymatically Hydrolyzed Proteins of Spirulina platensis and Chlorella vulgaris
by Baran Masoumifeshani, Abdolmohammad Abedian Kenari, Ignacio Sottorff, Max Crüsemann and Jamshid Amiri Moghaddam
Mar. Drugs 2025, 23(4), 162; https://doi.org/10.3390/md23040162 - 8 Apr 2025
Viewed by 597
Abstract
Microalgae are a promising source of bioactive compounds, particularly proteins and peptides, with potential applications in skin health and the cosmetic industry. This study investigated the antioxidant and anti-aging properties of peptide fractions derived from Spirulina platensis and Chlorella vulgaris. Both microalgae [...] Read more.
Microalgae are a promising source of bioactive compounds, particularly proteins and peptides, with potential applications in skin health and the cosmetic industry. This study investigated the antioxidant and anti-aging properties of peptide fractions derived from Spirulina platensis and Chlorella vulgaris. Both microalgae were cultivated, and their proteins were subsequently extracted, enzymatically hydrolyzed with alcalase, and fractionated through ultrafiltration. Alkaline extraction yielded 82% protein from S. platensis and 72% from C. vulgaris. Enzymatic hydrolysis predominantly yielded <3 kDa peptides, which exhibited strong antioxidant activity reaching 78% for 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhidrazol (DPPH), 82% for 2,2′-azinobis-3-etilbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), and 74% for ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), with IC50 values as low as 23.44 µg/mL for ABTS inhibition in C. vulgaris. These peptides also significantly inhibited skin-aging enzymes, showing 84% inhibition of elastase, 90% of collagenase, and 66% of tyrosinase. Mass spectrometry and GNPS molecular networking of the <3 kDa fraction identified several di- and tri-peptides, including Lys-Val, Val-Arg, His-Ile, Lys-Leu, Ile-Leu, and Leu-Phe, Tyr-Phe, and Leu-Gly-Leu, potentially contributing to these bioactivities. These findings suggest that the enzymatic hydrolysis of S. platensis and C. vulgaris proteins provides a sustainable and natural source of bioactive peptides for antioxidant and anti-aging applications in food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Algal Biotechnology and Applications)
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17 pages, 3841 KiB  
Article
RNA Editing Analysis Reveals Methyl Jasmonic Acid Regulation of Fucoxanthin and Fatty Acid Metabolism in Phaeodactylum tricornutum
by Sihui Huang, Hao Liu, Ruihao Xu, Wangchang Li, Han Yang, Xinlei Bao, Yuqing Hang, Yifu Gong and Yuxiang Zhao
Mar. Drugs 2025, 23(2), 66; https://doi.org/10.3390/md23020066 - 6 Feb 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 910
Abstract
Phaeodactylum tricornutum is a marine diatom with significant biotechnological potential, particularly in producing high-value bioactive compounds such as fucoxanthin and unsaturated fatty acids, which possess significant pharmaceutical and nutraceutical properties. However, the naturally low yields of these compounds present a major challenge for [...] Read more.
Phaeodactylum tricornutum is a marine diatom with significant biotechnological potential, particularly in producing high-value bioactive compounds such as fucoxanthin and unsaturated fatty acids, which possess significant pharmaceutical and nutraceutical properties. However, the naturally low yields of these compounds present a major challenge for large-scale production. Methyl jasmonic acid (MeJA), a plant-derived signaling molecule, has been shown to enhance the biosynthesis of these metabolites in P. tricornutum. While transcriptional regulation has been extensively studied, the role of post-transcriptional modifications, such as RNA editing, in mediating MeJA-induced metabolic changes remains largely unexplored. RNA editing can alter nucleotide sequences, leading to functional changes in gene expression and protein activity, thus providing a potential regulatory mechanism for enhanced biosynthesis of target metabolites. In this study, we investigated the role of RNA editing in Phaeodactylum tricornutum under methyl jasmonic acid (MeJA) treatment, focusing on its impact on the accumulation of bioactive compounds such as fucoxanthin and fatty acids. We conducted a comprehensive comparative analysis of RNA editing events across MeJA-treated and control groups. Our findings reveal that MeJA treatment induces significant variations in RNA editing levels, affecting key metabolic pathways. Notably, two genes, Lhcr10 (Phatr3_J16481) and Phatr3_J43665, were identified as potential contributors to increased RNA editing enzyme activity and to energy metabolism and fatty acid biosynthesis under MeJA treatment. These results provide a foundation for the discovery of molecular mechanisms underlying adaptive responses in P. tricornutum and highlight RNA editing as a critical regulatory mechanism in MeJA-induced metabolic reprogramming. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Algal Biotechnology and Applications)
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21 pages, 1223 KiB  
Article
Functional and Bioactive Benefits of Selected Microalgal Hydrolysates Assessed In Silico and In Vitro
by Elena Aurino, Leticia Mora, Antonio Marzocchella, Christina M. Kuchendorf, Bärbel Ackermann and Maria Hayes
Mar. Drugs 2025, 23(2), 53; https://doi.org/10.3390/md23020053 - 22 Jan 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1134
Abstract
BIOPEP-UWM, a peptide database, contains 5128 peptides from a myriad of resources. Five listed peptides are Angiotensin-I-converting enzyme (ACE-1; EC3.4.15.1) inhibitory peptides derived from a red alga, while two from Chlorella vulgaris have anti-cancer and antioxidative bioactivities. Herein, we describe a process combining [...] Read more.
BIOPEP-UWM, a peptide database, contains 5128 peptides from a myriad of resources. Five listed peptides are Angiotensin-I-converting enzyme (ACE-1; EC3.4.15.1) inhibitory peptides derived from a red alga, while two from Chlorella vulgaris have anti-cancer and antioxidative bioactivities. Herein, we describe a process combining hydrolysis with two enzymes, Alcalase and Viscozyme, and filtration to generate protein-rich, bioactive peptide-containing hydrolysates from mixed species of Chlorella sp. and Scenedesmus sp. The potential of generated algal hydrolysates to act as food ingredients was determined by assessment of their techno-functional (foaming, emulsification, solubility, water holding, and oil holding capacity) properties. Bioactive screening of hydrolysates in vitro combined with mass spectrometry (MS) and in silico predictions identified bioactive and functional hydrolysates and six novel peptides. Peptides derived from Chlorella mix have the sequences YDYIGNNPAKGGLF and YIGNNPAKGGLF with predicted anti-inflammatory (medium confidence) and umami potential. Peptides from Scenedesmus mix have sequences IEWYGPDRPKFL, RSPTGEIIFGGETM, TVQIPGGERVPFLF, and IEWYGPDRPKFLGPF with predicted anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, and umami attributes. Such microalgal hydrolysates could provide essential amino acids to consumers as well as tertiary health benefits to improve human global health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Algal Biotechnology and Applications)
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Review

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26 pages, 1699 KiB  
Review
Marine Invasive Algae’s Bioactive Ingredients as a Sustainable Pathway in Cosmetics: The Azores Islands as a Case Study
by Marta Matos, Luísa Custódio and Catarina Pinto Reis
Mar. Drugs 2024, 22(12), 575; https://doi.org/10.3390/md22120575 - 23 Dec 2024
Viewed by 1717
Abstract
Marine invasive species pose significant ecological, economic, and social challenges, disrupting native ecosystems, outcompeting local species and altering biodiversity. The spread of these species is largely driven by global trade, shipping, and climate change, which allow non-native species to establish themselves in new [...] Read more.
Marine invasive species pose significant ecological, economic, and social challenges, disrupting native ecosystems, outcompeting local species and altering biodiversity. The spread of these species is largely driven by global trade, shipping, and climate change, which allow non-native species to establish themselves in new environments. Current management strategies, including early detection, rapid response, and biosecurity measures, have had some success, but the complexity and scale of the problem require continuous monitoring. This review explores the possibility of using some marine invasive species as skincare ingredients and explores the Azorean islands as a case study for the valorization of biomass. Additionally, this review addresses legislative barriers that delay the development of sustainable cosmetic markets from invasive species, highlighting the regulatory landscape as a critical area. It concludes that marine invasive species present a regional and global problem that requires regional and global solutions. Such solutions strongly need to address environmental impacts and net socioeconomic benefits, but such solutions must also consider all regional differences, technical capacities and financial resources available. Thus, as a future perspective, strategies should emphasize the need for international collaboration and the development of more effective policies to prevent the spread of invasive species. There is still much work to be completed. By working together, the biodiversity for future generations will be better monitored and explored. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Algal Biotechnology and Applications)
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