Trends in cyanobacterial Phycobiliproteins - structure, function, and applications: A review

Phycobiliproteins (PBPs), essential pigments in cyanobacteria, efficiently capture light energy across various wavelengths for photosynthesis. At the same time, their antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties offer promising applications in biomedical fields, including photodynamic cancer therapy and treatments for oxidative stress-related disorders. This review emphasizes the comprehensive strategies required to enhance the production of phycobiliproteins, highlighting the pivotal role of bioprocess engineering. Sustainable increases in phycobiliprotein yields can be achieved by optimizing nutrient formulations, fine-tuning cultivation conditions, and employing advanced fermentation methodologies. Additionally, scaling up production through innovative bioreactor designs facilitates the transition from laboratory experiments to industrial manufacturing, while economical downstream processing methods enhance product recovery and purity. Genetic modification techniques further expand the potential for developing customized phycobiliproteins with improved properties tailored for specific uses. These advancements enable the creation of resilient strains capable of thriving under varied environmental and industrial settings. Engineered phycobiliproteins have demonstrated significant promise in biomedical applications, such as targeted drug delivery, photodynamic therapy, bioimaging, and diagnostics, as well as serving as natural pigments in the food and cosmetic industries.