Research Projects

Amid escalating energy demands and the urgent imperative to combat climate change, sustainable bioenergy solutions are critical. Oleaginous microalgae, with their shorter doubling time, high lipid productivity, CO₂ sequestration capacity, and non-competition with arable land are promising candidates. However, low biomass yields and costly cultivation strategies pose scalability challenges. This project explores a novel, dual-function strategy combining nanotechnology and algal biotechnology to address these limitations. Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) are emerging zero-dimensional carbon nanomaterials that offer significant potential for spectral interconversion due to their exceptional optical characteristics, excellent biocompatibility, high water dispersibility, and tunable surface functionalities. Leveraging the halotolerant microalga Dunaliella salina, known for its resilience in hypersaline environments, we propose the application of green-synthesized nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots (N-CQDs) to enhance photosynthetic efficiency, biomass accumulation, and triacylglycerol (TAG) biosynthesis for vehicular-grade neutral lipid production. In addition, the metabolic response of D. salina towards the N-CQDs will be unravelled through integrated transcriptomics and metabolomics insights. Simultaneously, lipid extracted algal biomass (LEAB) will be repurposed as a bio-derived electrocatalyst to facilitate cathodic oxygen reduction in bio-electrochemical systems, thereby enhancing current output under both alkaline and acidic environments. This dual-purpose approach integrates cutting-edge nanotechnology with microalgal biotechnology, offering a scalable, eco-friendly pathway for renewable energy. By rewiring metabolic pathways and advancing sustainable bioenergy systems, this proposal envisions cleaner, greener, and more efficient energy solutions, paving the way toward a circular bioeconomy and redefining the new paradigm of renewable energy, aligning with UN SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).