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Review
. 2025 Mar 4:16:1557298.
doi: 10.3389/fphar.2025.1557298. eCollection 2025.

Microalgae in health care and functional foods: β-glucan applications, innovations in drug delivery and synthetic biology

Chao Li  1   2   3 , Ming Du  3 , Yujie Han  3 , Wentao Sun  3 , Zixi Chen  3 , Qiong Liu  3 , Hui Zhu  2 , Liqing Zhao  4 , Shuangfei Li  3 , Jiangxin Wang  3
Affiliations
Review

Microalgae in health care and functional foods: β-glucan applications, innovations in drug delivery and synthetic biology

Chao Li et al. Front Pharmacol. .

Abstract

Microalgae are emerging as a key player in healthcare, functional foods, and sustainable biotech due to their capacity to produce bioactive compounds like β-glucans, omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants in an eco-friendly manner. This review comprehensively discusses the role of microalgae in healthcare and functional foods, focusing particularly on β-glucan therapeutics, drug delivery innovations, and synthetic biology applications. In healthcare, microalgae-derived compounds show immense promise for treating diseases, boosting immunity, and tackling oxidative stress. Euglena-derived paramylon, a type of β-glucan, has shown potential in various medical applications, including immunomodulation and anticancer therapy. Synthetic biology and bioprocess engineering are enhancing microalgae's therapeutic and nutritional value, with applications in drug delivery and personalized medicine. To maximize the potential of microalgae, further research and development are needed to address scalability, regulatory alignment, and consumer acceptance, with a focus on interdisciplinary collaboration and sustainable practices to align healthcare innovation with environmental conservation.

Keywords: drug delivery; functional foods; health care; microalgae; synthetic biology; β-glucan.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The author(s) declared that they were an editorial board member of Frontiers, at the time of submission. This had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Microalgae in healthcare and functional food applications.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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