Wang Xianmin, Ma Songlin, Liu Renwu, Zhang Tiexin, Mao Xinyu, Chen Yuxue, Wan Pengcheng, Chi Zhanyou, Kong Fantao
MOE Key Laboratory of Bio-Intelligent Manufacturing, School of Bioengineering, Dalian University of Technology, DalianLiaoning, 116024, China.
Central Hospital of Dalian University of Technology, Dalian Municipal Central Hospital, DalianLiaoning, 116000, China.
Adv Biotechnol (Singap). 2025 Jul 1;3(3):19. doi: 10.1007/s44307-025-00073-9.
Microalgae are a group of photosynthetic autotrophic microorganisms that are classified as Generally Recognized as safe (GRAS). They are rich in high-value bioactive compounds with broad applications in food, healthcare and pharmaceuticals. Recent research demonstrated that microalgae have significant potential as innovative biomaterials for biomedical applications. The unique phototactic movement of microalgae enables them controlled drug delivery to targeted tissues in patients. Furthermore, microalgae produce oxygen via photosynthesis when exposed to light, overcoming tumor hypoxia limitations and improving biomedical imaging in vivo. Additionally, the intrinsic biophysical properties and modifiability of microalgae can be harnessed for the development of biohybrid robots and bioprinting, expanding their clinical applications. This review highlights current engineering innovations in microalgae for medical applications, such as drug delivery, tumor hypoxia targeting, wound healing, and immunotherapy. The remarkable biocompatibility, diverse biological functionalities, and cost-effectiveness of microalgae provide a promising platform for future application of targeted drug delivery and precision medicine.
微藻是一类光合自养微生物，被归类为一般认为安全（GRAS）。它们富含高价值的生物活性化合物，在食品、医疗保健和制药领域有广泛应用。最近的研究表明，微藻作为用于生物医学应用的创新生物材料具有巨大潜力。微藻独特的趋光运动使其能够将药物可控地递送至患者体内的靶向组织。此外，微藻在光照下通过光合作用产生氧气，克服肿瘤缺氧限制并改善体内生物医学成像。此外，微藻的固有生物物理特性和可修饰性可用于开发生物杂交机器人和生物打印，扩大其临床应用。本综述重点介绍了微藻在医学应用方面当前的工程创新，如药物递送、肿瘤缺氧靶向、伤口愈合和免疫疗法。微藻卓越的生物相容性、多样的生物学功能和成本效益为未来靶向药物递送和精准医学的应用提供了一个有前景的平台。
