Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Perspective on the Therapeutic Applications of Algal Polysaccharides

Researchers reviewed the extraction, structural properties, and therapeutic bioactivities of algal polysaccharides — complex carbohydrates from marine and freshwater algae — summarizing evidence for their anticancer, antiviral, antidiabetic, and immunomodulatory effects and identifying knowledge gaps needed to develop them as pharmaceuticals.

2021 Journal of Polymers and the Environment 64 citations
Article Tier 2

Concepts and Trends for Extraction and Application of Microalgae Carbohydrates

This review covers how carbohydrates from microalgae can be extracted and used in health, food, and industrial applications. Microalgae research is relevant to microplastics because algae are sensitive to plastic particle toxicity and because algal coatings on microplastics affect how marine organisms interact with them.

2019 IntechOpen eBooks 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Identification of Cell-Attachment Factors Derived from Green Algal Cells Disrupted by Sonication in Fabrication of Cell Plastics

This study identified cell-attachment factors from green algae that could be used to create bioplastics made entirely from algal cell materials. Algae-based bioplastics are a fully biodegradable alternative to petroleum-derived plastics that would not generate persistent microplastics upon degradation.

2023 Bioengineering 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Advances in the Genus Ulva Research: From Structural Diversity to Applied Utility

This review synthesized current knowledge on the macroalga Ulva (sea lettuce) covering its structural diversity, biochemical composition, ecological roles, and applied uses in food, biofuel, and bioremediation. The review highlighted Ulva's potential as a bioindicator of microplastic and pollutant contamination in coastal environments.

2025 Plants 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Role of microalgae as a sustainable alternative of biopolymers and its application in industries

Not a microplastics paper — this review examines the potential of algae-derived biopolymers (such as alginate, carrageenan, and polyhydroxyalkanoates) as biodegradable, eco-friendly replacements for petroleum-based plastics, highlighting their advantages but noting challenges for large-scale production.

2023 Plant Science Today 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Porphyridium sp. Microalgae as a source of polysaccharides

Not relevant to microplastics — this study compares three Porphyridium microalgae strains for their ability to produce exopolysaccharides under different nutrient and light conditions, relevant to industrial biopolymer production.

2024 Journal of Applied Biology & Biotechnology 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Microalgae Polysaccharides: An Overview of Production, Characterization, and Potential Applications

This review covers microalgae polysaccharide production, characterization, and applications, highlighting their antioxidant, antibacterial, and antiviral properties while noting that microalgae can simultaneously remediate wastewater during biomass growth.

2021 Polysaccharides 118 citations
Article Tier 2

Methods of extraction, physicochemical properties of alginates and their applications in biomedical field – a review

This review covers the extraction methods, properties, and biomedical applications of alginates, natural polysaccharides derived from brown seaweed. Researchers highlight how extraction parameters affect alginate quality and how these biopolymers can be formed into fibers, films, hydrogels, and foams for wound management and pharmaceutical use. The study notes that alginates are biodegradable and biocompatible, making them a promising material for reducing reliance on synthetic plastics in certain applications.

2019 Open Chemistry 163 citations
Article Tier 2

Biotechnologies for bulk production of microalgal biomass: from mass cultivation to dried biomass acquisition

This review covers the current technologies for mass-producing microalgal biomass, from large-scale cultivation to harvesting and drying methods. Researchers discuss the challenges that keep production costs high, including contamination control and energy-intensive processing steps. The study highlights microalgae as a sustainable bioresource for food, pharmaceuticals, and feed, while noting that further innovation is needed to make commercial-scale production economically viable.

2023 Biotechnology for Biofuels and Bioproducts 81 citations
Article Tier 2

The Impact of Microalgae and Their Bioactive Compounds on Liver Well-being in Rats Subjected to Synthetic Phenolic Antioxidants

This review examines how microalgae and their bioactive compounds — including polysaccharides, pigments, and polyphenols — protect liver health in animal models, summarizing evidence for anti-inflammatory and antioxidant mechanisms. The authors note that algal-derived compounds show hepatoprotective effects in rodent studies, though human clinical evidence remains limited.

2024 Egyptian Journal of Veterinary Science
Article Tier 2

Functional groups in microalgal extracellular polymeric substances: A promising biopolymer for microplastic mitigation in marine ecosystems

Researchers characterized the sticky, sugar-like substances (extracellular polymeric substances, or EPS) produced by three types of microalgae and found these natural biopolymers could potentially bind and aggregate microplastics in marine environments, pointing toward a nature-based approach to reducing ocean plastic pollution.

2025 Ecological Engineering & Environmental Technology 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Glyceroglycolipids in marine algae: A review of their pharmacological activity

This review examines the pharmacological activities of glyceroglycolipids from marine algae, highlighting their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral, and antitumor properties and their potential applications in medicine and cosmetics.

2022 Frontiers in Pharmacology 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Algal extracellular polymeric substances (algal-EPS) for mitigating the combined toxic effects of polystyrene nanoplastics and nano-TiO2 in Chlorella sp.

This study found that algal extracellular polymeric substances can coat both polystyrene nanoplastics and titanium dioxide nanoparticles and reduce their combined toxic effects on the green alga Chlorella, suggesting that natural organic matter in marine environments can buffer combined nanoparticle toxicity.

2023 Nanotoxicology 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Recent advances in carrageenan-based films for food packaging applications

This review covers recent advances in carrageenan-based biodegradable films as sustainable alternatives to plastic food packaging, examining extraction methods, film fabrication strategies, and applications in extending food shelf life.

2022 Frontiers in Nutrition 120 citations
Article Tier 2

Application of Nanomaterials in the Production of Biomolecules in Microalgae: A Review

This review examined how nanomaterials such as metal oxides, carbon-based materials, and polymer particles can enhance microalgal biomass production and valuable metabolite yields, offering a promising supplement to conventional algal biotechnology.

2023 Marine Drugs 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Sustainable Marine Macroalgal Polysaccharide Films and Coatings: Toward Active and Intelligent Food Packaging System

This review (2020–2025) examines marine macroalgal polysaccharides—alginate, agar, carrageenan, and others—as sustainable film-forming materials for active and intelligent food packaging, highlighting their antimicrobial, antioxidant, and biodegradable properties as alternatives to plastic packaging.

2025 Journal of Applied Food Technology
Article Tier 2

An ecotoxicological approach towards the understanding of the impacts of micro- and nanoplastics in the marine environment

This PhD thesis investigated how micro- and nanoplastics affect marine microalgae and associated microbial consortia, examining how extracellular polymeric substances mediate plastic-biota interactions and how these effects cascade to higher trophic levels in marine food webs.

2025 Ghent University Academic Bibliography (Ghent University)
Article Tier 2

Current Status and Future Trends in Removal, Control, and Mitigation of Algae Food Safety Risks for Human Consumption

This review examines food safety risks associated with algae consumption including physical, chemical, and microbiological hazards, emphasizing the urgent need for rapid detection methods for toxic microbial contamination in algal products.

2022 Molecules 39 citations
Article Tier 2

Algal bioplastics: current market trends and technical aspects

Researchers reviewed the status and commercial potential of algal bioplastics as a sustainable alternative to fossil-based plastics, finding that microalgae outperform plants and microbes for bioplastic feedstock due to their fast growth and wastewater remediation capacity, while cost remains a key barrier to scale-up.

2022 Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy 64 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics removal from water body by extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) extracted from microalge through surfactants pre-treatment

Researchers explored using extracellular polymeric substances extracted from microalgae — combined with surfactant pretreatment — to remove microplastics from water. The biological approach showed promise as a low-cost and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional filtration methods.

2023 SPIRE - Sciences Po Institutional REpository
Article Tier 2

Component structure and characteristic analysis of cyanobacterial organic matters

Researchers characterized the component structure of algal organic matter secreted and released by cyanobacteria in both laboratory-cultured Microcystis aeruginosa and actual Taihu Lake samples using spectroscopic quantitative and qualitative methods. They found that extracellular organic matter content increased relative to intracellular organic matter as cultures aged, and that extracellular fractions had lower molecular weight and were more difficult to separate from water than intracellular fractions.

2022 Water Science & Technology 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Microalgae as a Source of Biopolymer - A Comprehensive Review

This review examines microalgae as a source of biopolymers for sustainable plastic alternatives, evaluating the potential of algae-derived materials to address the environmental and health harms caused by conventional plastic waste and microplastic pollution through biodegradable substitutes.

2022 Journal Of Biochemical Technology 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Extracellular polymers substances towards the toxicity effect of Microcystis flos-aquae under subjected to nanoplastic stress

Researchers studied how nanoplastics affect a common freshwater algae and found that the algae produce protective substances in response, but the plastic particles still significantly inhibited growth and disrupted photosynthesis. This matters because harmful algal blooms and water quality are affected by nanoplastic pollution, with downstream consequences for drinking water safety and aquatic food sources.

2025 Environmental Pollution 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Ecofriendly algal extracellular polymeric substance-based nanobiocomposite for photodegradation of bisphenol A

Researchers developed an algal extracellular polymeric substance-based zeolite/nanoceria nanobiocomposite and demonstrated its effectiveness for photodegradation of bisphenol A, a plasticizer and emerging pollutant that leaches into water bodies from degrading microplastics.

2025 iScience