Microalgae: Biofactory for Valuable Products

Dear Colleagues,

In the face of global challenges such as climate change and increasing demand for sustainable and nutritious resources, the exploration of alternative sources has become imperative. Microalgae, capable of converting sunlight and carbon dioxide into biomass, have garnered significant attention for addressing these pressing issues. These tiny organisms are rich sources of lipids, proteins, carbohydrates, pigments, and bioactive compounds, which have applications in food and feed in addition to the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and cosmetics industries.

Microalgae can be cultivated in various environments, including freshwater, seawater, and industrial wastewater, minimizing the competition for arable land and freshwater resources. Their fast growth rates and high biomass productivity further enhance their potential as a sustainable bioresource. Microalgae possess the unique ability to synthesize and accumulate high levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), including omega-3 fatty acids, such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), as well as omega-6 fatty acids, such as gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). These PUFAs are known for their numerous health benefits, including anti-inflammatory properties, improving cognitive function, and cardiovascular health promotion. Pigments from microalgae are promising ecofriendly colorants, nutraceuticals, and antioxidants. Moreover, several secondary metabolites, such as polysaccharides and peptides, possess therapeutic potential that can be harnessed for the development of drugs, nutraceuticals, and functional foods.

This Special Issue is for the purpose of publishing both recent innovative research results as well as review papers on valuable products from microalgae biofactory through various cultivation modes, bioreactors, cultivation strategies, and downstream processes. Strain improvement, metabolic engineering, and bioreactor design are of great significance. The delivery system and bioactivity of microalgal products are also of interest.

Dr. Han Sun
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. Fermentation 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 2100 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.

• pigment
• PUFAs
• cultivation strategy
• strain improvement
• metabolic engineering
• bioreactor design
• delivery system
• bioactivity