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Algae-Derived Bioactive Compounds as Platforms for Translational Biotechnology and Health Applications
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Zoe Bentham,
Zeinab El Dor,
Valerie J. Rodrigues,
Alla Silkina ,
Pietro Marchese,
Mary Murphy,
Jessica M. M. Adams ,
Frank Barry,
Claudio Fuentes-Grünewald ,
Walid Rachidi ,
Deya Gonzalez
BioTech, Volume: 15, Issue: 2, Start page: 34
Swansea University Authors:
Hannah Morris , Zoe Bentham, Alla Silkina , Deya Gonzalez
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© 2026 by the authors. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license.
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DOI (Published version): 10.3390/biotech15020034
Abstract
Marine macroalgae, microalgae, and associated microorganisms are increasingly recognised as valuable sources of bioactive compounds with applications across biotechnology and health. The environmental and ecological conditions they inhabit shape their metabolite diversity, leading to the production...
| Published in: | BioTech |
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| ISSN: | 2673-6284 |
| Published: |
MDPI
2026
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| Online Access: |
Check full text
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| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa72031 |
| Abstract: |
Marine macroalgae, microalgae, and associated microorganisms are increasingly recognised as valuable sources of bioactive compounds with applications across biotechnology and health. The environmental and ecological conditions they inhabit shape their metabolite diversity, leading to the production of high-value compounds such as sulphated polysaccharides, lipids, pigments, phenolics, and peptides. These compounds exhibit conserved biological activities that underpin potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, and pro-regenerative effects with strong potential for translation. Although external factors drive rich metabolite diversity, continual variation can also lead to translational constraints including heavy-metal accumulation, inconsistency in extract composition, and regulatory complexity. This review examines the environmental drivers of metabolite diversity and the functional potential of bioactives derived from marine algae. We focus on their translational application within four areas of growing interest: nutraceuticals, cosmetics, regenerative medicine, and oncology, where emerging evidence suggests their promise as next-generation bioactive ingredients and therapeutic leads. In addition, insights from Irish and Welsh Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are collated to identify key bottlenecks in commercialisation and the requirements for effective marine biodiscovery pipelines. We consider the importance of controlled cultivation, standardised analytics, preclinical testing platforms, and collaborative innovation ecosystems and highlight the need for coordinated scientific, technical, and regulatory advances to unlock the full translational potential of marine-derived compounds. |
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| Item Description: |
Review |
| Keywords: |
marine biodiscovery; marine bioactive compounds; microalgae; macroalgae; regenerative medicine; anti-cancer mechanisms; marine metabolites; cosmeceuticals |
| College: |
Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences |
| Funders: |
This review was part-funded by the Welsh Government’s Agile Cymru Programme [grant number: AC25015]. The work of A.S. was supported by UK Research and Innovation Building a Green Future strategic theme [grant number UKRI239]. |
| Issue: |
2 |
| Start Page: |
34 |