Microalgae biomass for sustainable extraction of high-value bioactive compounds for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical fields

Microalgae are a sustainable source of bioactive compounds with applications in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical fields. Their metabolic flexibility enables the production of polysaccharides, fatty acids, pigments and polyphenols with antioxidant, antimicrobial and anticancer properties. This project focuses on Arthrospira platensis and Chlorella sorokiniana, aiming to understand how cultivation conditions and extraction methods affect chemical composition and biological activity. Biomasses obtained under autotrophic and mixotrophic conditions are compared. Mixotrophic growth includes the use of organic substrates derived from food industry waste, in line with circular bioeconomy principles. The goal is not to optimize cultivation, but to evaluate its impact on metabolite profiles and bioactivity. Different extraction protocols using solvents of varying polarity are applied to obtain hydrophilic and lipophilic fractions enriched in specific metabolites. Chemical characterization is performed by LC-MS/MS to correlate metabolite profiles with biological effects. Biological activity is assessed through in vitro assays. Antioxidant capacity is measured by ABTS assay, antibacterial activity against ATCC strains, and antiproliferative effects on cancer models including A549 and Marginal Zone Lymphoma cell lines, also considering drug-resistant clones. The project aims to link cultivation, extraction, chemistry and bioactivity, identifying promising compounds for natural-based therapeutics.