Nanoparticles-Mediated Enhancement and Extraction of Microalgal Pigments
摘要
Microalgal pigments play a crucial role in absorbing light energy, facilitating the photosynthesis process, and converting it into chemical energy. These pigments also contribute to the coloration of microalgae, which can range from green, red, brown, to blue. Among the most common microalgal pigments are carotenoids, chlorophylls, chlorophyllide and phycobilins, valued for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, making them useful in various industries such as food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology. Recently, there has been a growing interest in using nanoparticles to extract microalgal pigments due to their ability to improve extraction efficiency, especially from low pigment quantities. Nanoparticles can enhance the properties of these pigments, making them suitable for specific applications. This chapter provides a detailed overview of the techniques involving nanoparticles in pigment extraction, explains how nanoparticles enhance pigment functionality, and explores the diverse applications of nanoparticle-enhanced microalgal pigments across different industries.