Algal Research-Biomass Biofuels and Bioproducts最新文献

{"title":"Bioremediation of collected petrochemical wastewaters by the Chlorophyta Picocystis sp.","authors":"Ines Dahmen ,&nbsp;Fatma Hadrich ,&nbsp;Ines Zribi ,&nbsp;Sami Sayadi ,&nbsp;Sirine Choura ,&nbsp;Nidhal Baccar ,&nbsp;Rihab Bouhdida ,&nbsp;Hatem Ben Ouada ,&nbsp;Mohamed Chamkha","doi":"10.1016/j.algal.2026.104573","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.algal.2026.104573","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Petroleum refinery and lubricant regeneration industries discharge large volumes of toxic wastewater rich in hydrocarbons, oils, and heavy metals, posing serious environmental challenges in Tunisia. At the Tunisian Lubricants Company (SOTULUB) refinery, approximately 18 m³ of such effluents are generated daily from condensates, cleaning waters, and stripped streams, even after conventional biological treatment. This study assessed the bioremediation potential of the chlorophyte <em>Picocystis</em> sp. cultivated in petroleum refinery wastewaters collected before (TBRWI) and after (TBRWO) a trickling bed reactor. Cultures were exposed to 25–100% wastewater concentrations for 10 days. <em>Picocystis</em> sp. exhibited optimal growth and lipid accumulation at 50% concentration. The lipid-rich biomass (85.3 mg/g dw) exhibited a fatty acid profile suitable for biodiesel production, while removing up to 94% TOC, 50% BOD₅, 25.5% COD, and 50.8% hydrocarbon reduction in TBRWI, and 87% TOC, 87.5% BOD₅, 64.1% COD, and 35% hydrocarbon reduction in TBRWO. Cytotoxicity assays confirmed full detoxification, with HEK-293 cell viability increasing to 128% (TBRWO) and 169% (TBRWI) after microalgal treatment. Seed bioassays demonstrated that treated effluents restored <em>Lactuca sativa</em> germination to 100% and stimulated shoot growth by up to 27%, indicating phytotoxicity removal. These findings highlight <em>Picocystis</em> sp. as a promising and eco-sustainable candidate for refinery wastewater treatment and biofuel generation within an integrated circular bioeconomy framework.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7855,"journal":{"name":"Algal Research-Biomass Biofuels and Bioproducts","volume":"95 ","pages":"Article 104573"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147386605","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Vitamin-rich Spirulina as a sustainable food-based supplement: Advances in bioprocess optimization and health potential","authors":"Nannan Zhao ,&nbsp;Yadong Chu ,&nbsp;Qitian Huang ,&nbsp;Song Qin ,&nbsp;Hongli Cui ,&nbsp;Wei Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.algal.2026.104629","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.algal.2026.104629","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Spirulina</em> (<em>Arthrospira/Limnospira</em>) is one of the most commercially important microalgae, a nutrient-dense cyanobacterium widely recognized for its high protein, vitamin, and antioxidant content. Recent advances in cultivation, metabolic analysis, and food-grade processing have renewed interest in <em>Spirulina</em> as a vitamin-rich edible platform for natural human supplementation. Unlike synthetic vitamins or plant extracts, <em>Spirulina</em> provides a balanced spectrum of bioavailable vitamins, including provitamin A (β-carotene), B-complex (particularly B12 analogues), vitamin E (α-tocopherol), and vitamin K1, within an edible and digestible food matrix. However, vitamin content in <em>Spirulina</em> is highly variable and strongly influenced by strain genetics, cultivation conditions (light, nutrients, temperature, salinity), and harvest stage, creating challenges for product consistency and efficacy. This review synthesizes the current knowledge on <em>Spirulina</em> vitamin composition, influencing factors, and strategies to enhance vitamin levels in <em>Spirulina</em> biomass through optimized light regimes, nitrogen sources, and stress modulation (e.g., salinity, oxidative stress). Particular attention is given to recent findings on cultivation-metabolism linkages, biorefinery-based harvesting, and post-harvest stabilization of vitamins for long-term product quality. Comparative analysis of <em>Spirulina</em> with other natural and fortified food sources demonstrates its advantage as a safe, whole-food-based vitamin supplement, compatible with clean-label and vegan markets. This paper also discusses human dietary requirements, global market dynamics for natural vitamin supplements, and emerging biotechnological tools for strain improvement while noting regulatory and consumer considerations surrounding genetically modified cyanobacteria. Overall, <em>Spirulina</em> offers a sustainable, edible, and multifunctional approach to meeting human vitamin needs within a food-based nutrition framework rather than a synthetic production model.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7855,"journal":{"name":"Algal Research-Biomass Biofuels and Bioproducts","volume":"95 ","pages":"Article 104629"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147449669","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A critical review and AI-based framework for next-generation algal biorefineries: Integrating green solvents, sequential extraction, and predictive sustainability analysis","authors":"Udayakumar Mani ,&nbsp;Harishbabu Balaraman ,&nbsp;Jagan Saravanan ,&nbsp;Senthilkumar Rathnasamy","doi":"10.1016/j.algal.2026.104640","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.algal.2026.104640","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The transition to a sustainable circular bioeconomy demands integrated biorefineries maximizing whole-biomass utilization. This review proposes a cohesive operational framework for algal biorefineries that overcomes the limitations of conventional, single-product extraction paradigms. While existing literature examines green solvents and sequential extraction independently, this work unifies them into a single cascading architecture incorporating ionic liquids, deep eutectic solvents, and advanced techniques such as microwave, ultrasound, and supercritical fluid extraction to enable simultaneous co-recovery of lipids, pigments, and proteins. A central innovation is the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to establish an adaptive, predictive bioprocessing environment. Published AI/ML models for biomass productivity estimation, solvent design, and process optimization are critically evaluated, with attention to limitations in multi-product cascade applications. An AI-augmented workflow is introduced supporting intelligent solvent selection, real-time parameter tuning, and holistic techno-economic and life cycle analysis, marking a shift from empirical, yield-focused approaches toward data-driven, zero-waste valorization. By synthesizing these concepts into a unified framework integrating green solvents, sequential extraction, and AI-driven optimization with techno-economic and life cycle analysis, this review delivers a strategic blueprint for implementing intelligent, autonomous systems within the next-generation circular algal bioeconomy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7855,"journal":{"name":"Algal Research-Biomass Biofuels and Bioproducts","volume":"95 ","pages":"Article 104640"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147449750","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Elucidating the growth effects of Klebsormidium sp. and Vischeria stellata on maize using network pharmacology and experimental validation","authors":"Yu Jiang ,&nbsp;Hao Ning ,&nbsp;Min Liu ,&nbsp;Zhixin Wei ,&nbsp;Min Wu ,&nbsp;Xingyu Yan ,&nbsp;Peihong Shen ,&nbsp;Jian Jin ,&nbsp;Luodong Huang","doi":"10.1016/j.algal.2026.104519","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.algal.2026.104519","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigated the synergistic effects of diverse active compounds in the aqueous extracts of the filamentous alga <em>Klebsormidium</em> sp. (GXU-A8) and the single-celled alga <em>Vischeria stellata</em> (GXU-A13) on maize growth promotion. Using sodium nitrate as the nitrogen source at an initial concentration of 9 mmol/L, GXU-A8 biomass reached 4.73 g/L, while GXU-A13 biomass reached 7.96 g/L. Water-soluble metabolic components were extracted from the obtained biomass of both microalgae. The aqueous extracts of GXU-A8 and GXU-A13 contained 397 and 504 metabolic compounds, respectively, with 124 compounds shared between them. Notably, GXU-A8 was characterized by Linamarin (5.75 %) and GXU-A13 by Choline Alfoscerate (3.36 %). Network analysis revealed that GXU-A8 activated growth-related pathways (chromosome regulation, protein folding, signaling), while GXU-A13 enhanced stress resistance through distinct pathways (terpenoid/polyketide metabolism, photosynthetic carbon fixation, nucleotide metabolism). Molecular docking confirmed key target interactions for each strain (Estriol for GXU-A8, Guanine/Arabinosylhypoxanthine for GXU-A13), consistent with the respective roles of GXU-A8 in promoting growth under non-stress conditions and GXU-A13 in enhancing stress Protection. This study applied network pharmacology and molecular docking to elucidate microalgae-plant interactions for the precise application of bio-stimulant.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7855,"journal":{"name":"Algal Research-Biomass Biofuels and Bioproducts","volume":"94 ","pages":"Article 104519"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145973855","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Anti-inflammatory effects of the Ecklonia cava and Hizikia fusiformis formula (EH) in Phorbol 12-Myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced A549 cells and a particulate matter (PM)-induced pulmonary injury mouse model","authors":"Hyun Kang ,&nbsp;Sung-Gyu Lee","doi":"10.1016/j.algal.2026.104572","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.algal.2026.104572","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Environmental particulate matter (PM) exposure is a major contributor to chronic airway inflammation, yet long-term use of conventional drugs is limited by side effects. This study investigated the anti-inflammatory effects and molecular mechanisms of a combined extract from <em>Ecklonia cava</em> and <em>Hizikia fusiformis</em> (EH) in Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-stimulated human alveolar epithelial cells (A549) and a PM₁₀-induced pulmonary injury mouse model. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) identified dieckol and fucosterol as representative marker compounds of the EH. EH significantly reduced COX-2 protein and MUC5AC mRNA expression, and inhibited ERK and p38 MAPK phosphorylation <em>in vitro</em>, without affecting cell viability. Molecular docking analysis revealed strong binding affinity of dieckol to p38 MAPK, forming multiple stabilizing interactions in the ATP-binding site, whereas neither dieckol nor fucosterol displayed stable COX-2 binding poses. <em>In vivo</em>, EH administration ameliorated PM₁₀-induced histopathological pulmonary damage, decreased bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) total cell counts, and suppressed mRNA expression of <em>COX-2, MUC5AC, IL-6</em>, and <em>TNF-α</em>. These findings suggest that EH exerts multi-target anti-inflammatory activity primarily through p38 MAPK inhibition by dieckol, supporting its potential as a natural therapeutic strategy for airway inflammation associated with environmental pollutants.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7855,"journal":{"name":"Algal Research-Biomass Biofuels and Bioproducts","volume":"94 ","pages":"Article 104572"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146170291","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Rapid extraction method for enhanced yield and purity of phycobiliproteins from cyanobacterium Nostoc sp. SW02 and their anticancer cytotoxic properties","authors":"Kasinee Kula ,&nbsp;Pradabrat Prajanket ,&nbsp;Sutthawan Suphan ,&nbsp;Wuttinun Raksajit ,&nbsp;Kanjana Tuantet ,&nbsp;Wanthanee Khetkorn","doi":"10.1016/j.algal.2026.104567","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.algal.2026.104567","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cyanobacterial phycobiliproteins (PBPs) are valuable natural pigments extensively used in the food and pharmaceutical industries. For their commercial production, achieving high yield and purity is essential. This study proposes a rapid and effective method of PBPs extraction from <em>Nostoc</em> sp. SW02, avoiding the downstream purifying process. The production yield of PBPs achieved the highest value of 328.14 mg/gDW, with phycoerythrin (PE) being the main component. The maximum purity index of PE reaching cosmetic grade (3.23) was obtained under optimized conditions. The PBPs extract was also evaluated for its absorption and fluorescence characteristics, including functional group analysis using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Additionally, the obtained PBPs extract was studied for cytotoxicity on several cancer cell lines. It was able to inhibit HeLa cells at an IC₅₀ of 165.78 μg/mL. Mechanistic studies showed that the PBPs extract induced apoptotic death of HeLa cells through reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and G0/G1 phase cell cycle arrest. Therefore, this study revealed the potential of <em>Nostoc</em> sp. SW02 is a novel and sustainable source of purple PBPs pigment for use in biotechnological and pharmaceutical applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7855,"journal":{"name":"Algal Research-Biomass Biofuels and Bioproducts","volume":"94 ","pages":"Article 104567"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146170423","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Role of uniform 1 μm polystyrene microplastics in inducing oxidative damage and transcriptome alterations in Tetradesmus obliquus","authors":"Xibo Lu ,&nbsp;Seyed Ali Johari ,&nbsp;Zhuang Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.algal.2026.104555","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.algal.2026.104555","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The increasing prevalence of microplastics (MPs) in the aquatic environment poses a significant threat to aquatic organisms. However, research on their specific toxicological mechanisms remains limited. This study investigated the growth inhibition toxicity of 1 μm-sized polystyrene microplastics (PSMPs) at environmentally relevant concentrations (1.33 × 10⁴, 7.67 × 10⁴, 4.87 × 10⁵, and 2.78 × 10⁶ particles/mL) to the microalga <em>Tetradesmus obliquus</em> and explored the physiological and transcriptional responses induced by PSMPs in the algae. Exposure to PSMPs did not significantly inhibit algal growth across all the concentrations. PSMPs at the highest concentration induced intracellular oxidative stress, leading to a statistically significant increase in reactive oxygen species levels, as well as elevated levels of superoxide dismutase and malondialdehyde. The decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential may serve as a signal for cell apoptosis triggered by oxidative damage caused by PSMPs. Exposure to PSMPs significantly altered the gene expression profile of <em>T. obliquus</em>, affecting biological processes such as cell differentiation, membrane integrity, material transport and ion regulation. Furthermore, PSMPs disrupted the sphingolipid metabolism pathway in <em>T. obliquus</em>, causing abnormal expression of key synthetic and degradative enzymes, which affected the structure and function of cellular membrane. Overall, these findings demonstrated that PSMPs not only induced oxidative stress responses in <em>T. obliquus</em> but also exerted adverse effects on the algae by disrupting their metabolic pathways and gene expression. This study provides novel molecular insights and ecological evidence regarding the impacts of MPs on aquatic organisms.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7855,"journal":{"name":"Algal Research-Biomass Biofuels and Bioproducts","volume":"94 ","pages":"Article 104555"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146170361","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Integrated evaluation of biomass, lipid productivity, and FAME profile in C. vulgaris stimulated by α-Fe₂O₃ for biodiesel production","authors":"Fitra Ari Aditya ,&nbsp;Risqi Prastianto Setiawan ,&nbsp;Muhammad Is'ad Rozan ,&nbsp;Sapto Purnomo Putro ,&nbsp;Rinaldi Medali Rachman","doi":"10.1016/j.algal.2026.104538","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.algal.2026.104538","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Third-generation microalgal biodiesel represents a promising alternative for a sustainable energy transition, yet its advancement is constrained by limited lipid productivity and inconsistent fuel quality. This study presents a novel multiparametric evaluation of <em>C. vulgaris</em> cultivated with α-Fe₂O₃ supplementation (0–75 mg/L), integrating biomass growth, lipid accumulation, Nile Red fluorescence (NR-RFU), fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) composition, and biodiesel property indices. The 75 mg/L⁻¹ treatment exhibited the best performance, yielding 44.7 g biomass, 37.2% lipid content, 16.6 g/L⁻¹ lipid yield, and a 3.6-fold increase in NR-RFU compared to the control. GC–MS analysis revealed a MUFA-rich FAME profile dominated by C18:1 and C16:0, which corresponded to an improved cetane number (55.8), a reduced iodine value (101.7), and favorable cold flow properties (CFPP: 1.8 °C). A strong linear correlation (R² &gt; 0.98) was observed between oleic acid content and biodiesel quality indices. Fe³⁺ supplementation redirected metabolic flux toward triacylglycerol synthesis, supported by increased NADPH generation from photosynthetic electron transport. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to simultaneously visualize in vivo lipid droplets and predict biodiesel performance within a single cultivation system enhanced by iron-based nanoparticles. These findings highlight the potential of α-Fe₂O₃ as a cost-effective, scalable, and non-genetic strategy for improving both lipid productivity and biodiesel quality in microalgal biorefineries.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7855,"journal":{"name":"Algal Research-Biomass Biofuels and Bioproducts","volume":"94 ","pages":"Article 104538"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146170357","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Seasonal biochemical fingerprints of outdoor cultivated Spirulina (Limnospira platensis) and Microchloropsis gaditana: insights into compositional and functional shifts","authors":"Diana Lopes ,&nbsp;Ana S.P. Moreira ,&nbsp;Tiago Conde ,&nbsp;Andreia Ferreira ,&nbsp;Kayane Oliveira ,&nbsp;Alexandra Conde ,&nbsp;Helena R. Rocha ,&nbsp;Marta Coelho ,&nbsp;Ana Gomes ,&nbsp;Manuela Pintado ,&nbsp;Ana Alexandra Ramos ,&nbsp;Hugo Pereira ,&nbsp;Sónia P.M. Ventura ,&nbsp;Cláudia Nunes ,&nbsp;Manuel A. Coimbra ,&nbsp;Natacha Coelho ,&nbsp;Alexandre M.C. Rodrigues ,&nbsp;Maria do Rosário Domingues","doi":"10.1016/j.algal.2026.104520","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.algal.2026.104520","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Microalgae are increasingly recognized as sustainable bioresources with applications in food, feed, nutraceuticals, and aquaculture. Among them, Spirulina (<em>Limnospira platensis</em>) and <em>Microchloropsis gaditana</em> (formerly <em>Nannochloropsis gaditana</em>) stand out due to their rich biochemical composition with industrial applications and high market value. This study separately investigates the seasonal variability in the biochemical composition of <em>L. platensis</em> cultivated in open raceway ponds and <em>M. gaditana</em> grown in closed photobioreactors.</div><div>The results suggest a response to seasonal changes. <em>L. platensis</em> exhibited higher protein content in spring (47.82%) and summer (45.48%), while carbohydrate accumulation peaked in winter (50.85%). <em>M. gaditana</em> showed increased lipid (21.67%) and carbohydrate (14.56%) content in autumn compared to winter and summer, but with lower variations in response to seasonal environmental changes. This microalga exhibited higher FA 20:5 <em>n</em>-3 (EPA) levels in winter compared to summer. The dominant carbohydrate residue in both microalgae, present throughout all seasons, was glucose, which could be associated with the presence of β-glucans, in addition to glycogen, reinforcing their bioactive potential.</div><div>Pigment composition was also seasonally influenced in <em>L. platensis</em>, which accumulated more chlorophyll <em>a</em>nd phycocyanin in spring and summer, whereas <em>M. gaditana</em> showed elevated levels of neoxanthin in autumn and winter, and violaxanthin in spring.</div><div>Although limited by a single sampling per season and the different cultivation systems size, this study provides preliminary observations of seasonal variations in biomass composition, highlighting that biochemical composition varies with season in a species-specific manner. Understanding these variations improves our knowledge of microalgal biochemical plasticity under outdoor conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7855,"journal":{"name":"Algal Research-Biomass Biofuels and Bioproducts","volume":"94 ","pages":"Article 104520"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147397426","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Phycocyanin-loaded W1/O/W2 double emulsion-filled sodium alginate gel beads reinforced by chitosan for enhanced stability and sustained release performance","authors":"Miaomiao Han ,&nbsp;Ya Zhao ,&nbsp;Jiao Yu,&nbsp;Mohammad Molaveisi,&nbsp;Qilong Shi","doi":"10.1016/j.algal.2026.104591","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.algal.2026.104591","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Poor storage stability of W₁/O/W₂ double emulsion limits its application. To address this issue, phycocyanin (PC)-loaded gel beads based on W₁/O/W₂ double emulsions were prepared using an extrusion method, with sodium alginate and chitosan serving as the primary wall materials. The effects of different formulations and chitosan treatment on the physicochemical properties and release characteristics of the gel beads were investigated. The results demonstrated that gel beads formed by combining propylene glycol alginate (PGA)-stabilized double emulsions with sodium alginate and subsequently treated with chitosan (PGA-CS) exhibited an encapsulation efficiency of 97.72%, which was about 3.3 times that of the chitosan-treated gel beads that directly encapsulated phycocyanin (PC-CS). Compared with other formulas, PGA-CS bead showed improved textural properties, including hardness (0.87 N), springiness (0.57), cohesiveness (0.59), gumminess (51.97), and chewiness (17.38). These values increased by 163%, 32.6%, 11.3%, 193%, and 55.4%, respectively, compared to the counterparts of bead without chitosan treatment (PGA-W). Moreover, chitosan treatment markedly enhanced the structural integrity of the gel beads, improving their storage, thermal, and freeze–thaw stability. Compared to the PGA-W bead, the water holding capacity of the PGA-CS bead was significantly enhanced by 7.0%, 23.0% and 24.5% on day 0, 7, and 14; while the extent of syneresis of the PGA-CS bead was sharply reduced by 62.9% and 52.9% on day 7 and 14, respectively. Furthermore, the <em>in vitro</em> digestion results indicated that the emulsion-based gel beads effectively controlled the release of phycocyanin, with the release process governed by both concentration gradients and diffusion mechanisms.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7855,"journal":{"name":"Algal Research-Biomass Biofuels and Bioproducts","volume":"94 ","pages":"Article 104591"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147381689","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}