Progress in the Synthesis and Application of Phycocyanin-Based Nanoparticles

Phycocyanin, a phycobiliprotein, is a known antimicrobial and anticancer compound, and among nanoparticle formulations, its use has garnered significant attention regarding the treatment of cancers and bacterial and parasitic diseases. Phycocyanin has been deployed in a wide range of nanoparticles amid polymer (chitosan, polylactic acid-co-glycolic acid, polypyrrole, and hydrogel nanoparticles) and non-polymer (liposomes, phytosomes, micelles, microspheres, manganese dioxide, and black phosphorus quantum dots) entities. Phycocyanin-based nanoparticles were previously limited to utilizing their anticancer and antimicrobial effects, but recent studies have revealed that they target a variety of cellular and molecular processes, such as apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, angiogenesis, and metastasis. In addition, phycocyanin-based nanoparticles have demonstrated efficacy in inhibiting the growth of various parasites and bacteria, including Cryptosporidium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Serratia marcescens, and Bacillus cereus. Herein, various forms of phycocyanin-based nanoparticles are evaluated, emphasizing the cellular and molecular pathways involved in cancer and microbial therapy.