<i>Aphanizomenon flos-aquae</i>: A Biorefinery for Health and Energy—Unleashing Phycocyanin’s Power and Biogas Potential
This study presents a biorefinery approach for <i>Aphanizomenon flos-aquae</i>, demonstrating its potential as a dual source for phycocyanin and biogas. The antioxidant capacity of the extract was evaluated using the ABTS<sup>•+</sup> assay, while flow cytometry determined it...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Marine Drugs |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/23/6/225 |
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| author | Pilar Águila-Carricondo Raquel García-García Juan Pablo de la Roche Pedro Luis Galán Luis Fernando Bautista Juan J. Espada Gemma Vicente |
| author_facet | Pilar Águila-Carricondo Raquel García-García Juan Pablo de la Roche Pedro Luis Galán Luis Fernando Bautista Juan J. Espada Gemma Vicente |
| author_sort | Pilar Águila-Carricondo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study presents a biorefinery approach for <i>Aphanizomenon flos-aquae</i>, demonstrating its potential as a dual source for phycocyanin and biogas. The antioxidant capacity of the extract was evaluated using the ABTS<sup>•+</sup> 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<sup>•+</sup> 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 CH<sub>4</sub>/gVS, significantly higher than the 351 ± 19 mL CH<sub>4</sub>/gVS from the initial biomass. LCA estimated the environmental impacts of the <i>A. flos-aquae</i> 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 <i>A. flos-aquae</i> for the sustainable production of high-value compounds and renewable energy. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-96ef87163d414252aae846bc5763e91e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1660-3397 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Marine Drugs |
| spelling | doaj-art-96ef87163d414252aae846bc5763e91e2025-08-20T03:27:30ZengMDPI AGMarine Drugs1660-33972025-05-0123622510.3390/md23060225<i>Aphanizomenon flos-aquae</i>: A Biorefinery for Health and Energy—Unleashing Phycocyanin’s Power and Biogas PotentialPilar Águila-Carricondo0Raquel García-García1Juan Pablo de la Roche2Pedro Luis Galán3Luis Fernando Bautista4Juan J. Espada5Gemma Vicente6Department of Chemical, Energy and Mechanical Technology, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, C/Tulipán s/n, 28933 Móstoles, SpainDepartment of Chemical, Energy and Mechanical Technology, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, C/Tulipán s/n, 28933 Móstoles, SpainMicroalgae Solutions S.L., Factoría Industrial de Vicálvaro, Nave 5, 28052 Madrid, SpainMicroalgae Solutions S.L., Factoría Industrial de Vicálvaro, Nave 5, 28052 Madrid, SpainDepartment of Chemical and Environmental Technology, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, C/Tulipán s/n, 28933 Móstoles, SpainDepartment of Chemical, Energy and Mechanical Technology, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, C/Tulipán s/n, 28933 Móstoles, SpainDepartment of Chemical, Energy and Mechanical Technology, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, C/Tulipán s/n, 28933 Móstoles, SpainThis study presents a biorefinery approach for <i>Aphanizomenon flos-aquae</i>, demonstrating its potential as a dual source for phycocyanin and biogas. The antioxidant capacity of the extract was evaluated using the ABTS<sup>•+</sup> 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<sup>•+</sup> 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 CH<sub>4</sub>/gVS, significantly higher than the 351 ± 19 mL CH<sub>4</sub>/gVS from the initial biomass. LCA estimated the environmental impacts of the <i>A. flos-aquae</i> 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 <i>A. flos-aquae</i> for the sustainable production of high-value compounds and renewable energy.https://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/23/6/225<i>Aphanizomenon flos-aquae</i>cyanobacteriaantioxidantU-118 MG brain glioma cellsHCC1806 breast cancer cellsbiomethane |
| spellingShingle | Pilar Águila-Carricondo Raquel García-García Juan Pablo de la Roche Pedro Luis Galán Luis Fernando Bautista Juan J. Espada Gemma Vicente <i>Aphanizomenon flos-aquae</i>: A Biorefinery for Health and Energy—Unleashing Phycocyanin’s Power and Biogas Potential Marine Drugs <i>Aphanizomenon flos-aquae</i> cyanobacteria antioxidant U-118 MG brain glioma cells HCC1806 breast cancer cells biomethane |
| title | <i>Aphanizomenon flos-aquae</i>: A Biorefinery for Health and Energy—Unleashing Phycocyanin’s Power and Biogas Potential |
| title_full | <i>Aphanizomenon flos-aquae</i>: A Biorefinery for Health and Energy—Unleashing Phycocyanin’s Power and Biogas Potential |
| title_fullStr | <i>Aphanizomenon flos-aquae</i>: A Biorefinery for Health and Energy—Unleashing Phycocyanin’s Power and Biogas Potential |
| title_full_unstemmed | <i>Aphanizomenon flos-aquae</i>: A Biorefinery for Health and Energy—Unleashing Phycocyanin’s Power and Biogas Potential |
| title_short | <i>Aphanizomenon flos-aquae</i>: A Biorefinery for Health and Energy—Unleashing Phycocyanin’s Power and Biogas Potential |
| title_sort | i aphanizomenon flos aquae i a biorefinery for health and energy unleashing phycocyanin s power and biogas potential |
| topic | <i>Aphanizomenon flos-aquae</i> cyanobacteria antioxidant U-118 MG brain glioma cells HCC1806 breast cancer cells biomethane |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/23/6/225 |
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