Title : Spirulina as a bioengineered solution: CO2 capture and conversion into functional edible biomaterials
Abstract:
The current global landscape highlights an escalating environmental crisis driven by pollution and climate change. Among the primary contributors, carbon dioxide (CO2) stands out as the most significant greenhouse gas, with atmospheric concentrations reaching unprecedented levels. While traditional Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technologies have been widely explored, their high economic costs, infrastructural demands, and uncertainties regarding long-term environmental safety limit their scalability and acceptance.An emerging, eco-sustainable alternative lies in the utilization of microalgae as biological platforms for CO2 sequestration. Through the natural process of photosynthesis, microalgal "cell factories" like Spirulina platensis can effectively capture atmospheric or flue gas-derived CO2 and convert it into high-value biomass. This biomass serves as a renewable resource, offering potential for bioenergy generation, nutraceutical development, and therapeutic applications. Spirulina, a cyanobacterium rich in proteins, vitamins, and antioxidants, represents a particularly promising candidate due to its high growth rate, adaptability to diverse environments, and GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) status. It not only captures CO2 efficiently but also generates a nutrient-dense biomass. In biomedical engineering, this biomass can be processed and encapsulated into edible delivery systems such as capsules or tablets, offering dual benefits: environmental carbon reduction and enhanced human health through supplementation.
Moreover, Spirulina’s capacity to metabolize waste streams—such as industrial flue gases and nutrient-rich wastewater—positions it as a sustainable biotechnological solution at the intersection of environmental engineering and healthcare innovation. Genetic engineering strategies further enhance its productivity and compound-specific yields, allowing for precision-tuned biomass tailored to nutraceutical and pharmaceutical needs. This integrated approach—recycling CO2 into Spirulina biomass and transforming it into bioactive edible capsules—presents a compelling, circular solution for addressing climate change while promoting human well-being.
