Research Projects

Microalgae can be used as a cell factory to synthesize valuable compounds for food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. Red algae (Porphyridium sp.) and cyanobacteria (Spirulina sp.) are rich producers of phycobilin pigments, which can be used as natural alternatives to synthetic compounds. Phycoerythrin and phycocyanin, with their diverse properties, can act as natural colorants, pharmaceutical agents, fluorophores, and anti-oxidants. However, commercial production faces challenges such as low biomass titre, low pigment yield, and monocultures targeting single compounds. To address these issues, a novel co-cultivation technology is proposed, which is essentially a 'Spirulina and Porphyridium binary culture'. This technology aims to achieve high yields of phycocyanin and phycoerythrin. The project will focus on developing a process for co-cultivation of evolutionarily diverse Spirulina sp. and Porphyridium sp., achieving high biomass titre and phycobilin pigment yield through medium engineering and process engineering strategies, developing green extraction methods for extracting maximum phycobilin pigments, demonstrating the technology at a pilot scale for large-scale outdoor cultivation, and conducting a techno-economic analysis. In conclusion, this project aims to develop an economically feasible and scalable technology for phycobilin production at commercial scale. By addressing these bottlenecks and monoculture tailbacks, this technology could revolutionize the production of phycoerythrin and phycocyanin in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries.