Separating and Purifying Mycosporine-like Amino Acids from Cyanobacteria for Application in Commercial Sunscreen Formulations

Author:

Candelo Valeria12,Llewellyn Carole Anne1ORCID

Affiliation:

1. Biosciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK

2. AlgaeCytes Limited, Discovery Park, Ramsgate Road, Sandwich, Kent CT13 9ND, UK

Abstract

Using algal-derived mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) in sunscreen formulations is constrained by low cellular concentrations of MAAs and by the high costs associated with harvesting algal cells and extracting the MAAs. Here, we report an industrial scalable method using a membrane filtration approach to purify and concentrate aqueous extracts of MAAs. The method includes an additional biorefinery step enabling purification of phycocyanin, an established valuable natural product. Cultivated cells of the cyanobacterium Chlorogloeopsis fritschii (PCC 6912) were concentrated and homogenised to produce a feed for sequential processing through three membranes of decreasing pore size to obtain a retentate and permeate for each step. Microfiltration (0.2 µm) was used to remove cell debris. Ultrafiltration (10,000 Da) was used to remove large molecules and recover phycocyanin. Finally, nanofiltration (300–400 Da) was used to remove water and other small molecules. Permeate and retentate were analysed using UV-visible spectrophotometry and HPLC. The initial homogenised feed had a shinorine concentration of 5.6 ± 07 mg L−1. The final nanofiltered retentate resulted in a 3.3 times-purified concentrate (shinorine concentration of 18.71 ± 0.29 mg L−1). Significant process losses (35%) highlight scope for improvement. Results confirm the potential of membrane filtration to purify and concentrate aqueous solutions of MAAs with simultaneous separation of phycocyanin highlighting a biorefinery approach.

Funder

BBSRC

Publisher

MDPI AG

Subject

Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology,Biomedical Engineering,Biochemistry,Bioengineering,Biotechnology

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3