Bionanocomposites based on natural bioactive entities have gained importance due to their abundance; renewable and environmentally benign nature; and outstanding properties with applied perspective. Additionally, their formulation with biological molecules with antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer activities has been produced nowadays. The present review details the state of the art and the importance of this pyrrolic compound produced by microorganisms, with interest towards Serratia marcescens, including production strategies at a laboratory level and scale-up to bioreactors. Promising results of its biological activity have been reported to date, and the advances and applications in bionanocomposites are the most recent strategy to potentiate and to obtain new carriers for the transport and controlled release of prodigiosin. Prodigiosin, a bioactive secondary metabolite, produced by Serratia marcescens, is an effective proapoptotic agent against bacterial and fungal strains as well as cancer cell lines. Furthermore, this molecule presents antioxidant activity, which makes it ideal for treating wounds and promoting the general improvement of the immune system. Likewise, some of the characteristics of prodigiosin, such as hydrophobicity, limit its use for medical and biotechnological applications; however, this can be overcome by using it as a component of a bionanocomposite. This review focuses on the chemistry and the structure of the bionanocomposites currently developed using biorenewable resources. Moreover, the work illuminates recent developments in pyrrole-based bionanocomposites, with special insight to its application in the medical area.

In the last decade, algae applications have generated considerable interest among research organizations and industrial sectors. Bioactive compounds, such as carotenoids, and Mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) derived from microalgae may play a vital role in the bio and non-bio sectors. Currently, commercial sunscreens contain chemicals such as oxybenzone and octinoxate, which have harmful effects on the environment and human health; while microalgae-based sunscreens emerge as an eco-friendly alternative to provide photo protector agents against solar radiation. Algae-based exploration ranges from staple foods to pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and biomedical applications. This review aims to identify the effects of UV and UV-vis irradiation on the production of microalgae bioactive compounds through the assistance of different techniques and extraction methods for biomass characterization. The efficiency and results focus on the production of a blocking agent that does not damage the aquifer, being beneficial for health and possible biomedical applications.

Hemileia vastatrix (HV) is the pathogen responsible for the coffee leaf rust (CLR) disease that has spread globally. CLR causes losses of up to a billion dollars annually and affects all types of crops regardless of their production regime (organic or inorganic). Additionally, smallholders produce approximately 80% of coffee in developing countries. The condition causes losses of up to a billion dollars annually. It affects all types of crops regardless of their production regime (organic or inorganic). Approximately 80% of coffee is produced by smallholders in developing countries. Until the 90s, shaded-production systems and native varieties were encouraged; however, the rapid spread of CLR has forced farmers to migrate towards inorganic schemes, mainly due to a lack of knowledge about natural alternatives to pesticides that can be implemented to control HV. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to compile the currently existing options, emphasizing two key factors that guarantee efficient rust control: selective fungicidal activity against HV and the nutrition of coffee crops. Thus, by comprehending how these natural compounds (such as plant, bacteria, fungi, animals, or algae metabolites) impact coffee rust proliferation. Furthermore, since a various range of biochar effects contributes to the control of foliar fungal pathogens through modification of root exudates, soil properties, and nutrient availability, which influence the growth of antagonist microorganisms, we present a review of the pathogen-suppressive effects of biochar, and new control strategies suitable for organic schemes can be developed.

Porphyridium purpureum is a well-known Rhodophyta that recently has attracted enormous attention because of its capacity to produce many high-value metabolites such as the pigment phycoerythrin and several high-value fatty acids. Phycoerythrin is a fluorescent red protein-pigment commercially relevant with antioxidant, antimicrobial activity, and fluorescent properties. The volumetric mass transfer coefficient (k_La) was kept constant within the different scaling-up stages in the present study. This scaling-up strategy was sought to maintain phycoerythrin production and other high-value metabolites by Porphyridium purpureum, using hanging-bag photobioreactors. The k_La was monitored to ensure the appropriate mixing and CO₂ diffusion in the entire culture during the scaling process (16, 80, and 400 L). Then, biomass concentration, proteins, fatty acids, carbohydrates, and phycoerythrin were determined in each step of the scaling-up process. The k_La at 16 L reached a level of 0.0052 s⁻¹, while at 80 L, a value of 0.0024 s⁻¹ was achieved. This work result indicated that at 400 L, 1.22 g L⁻¹ of biomass was obtained, and total carbohydrates (117.24 mg L⁻¹), proteins (240.63 mg L⁻¹), and lipids (17.75% DW) were accumulated. Regarding fatty acids production, 46.03% palmitic, 8.03% linoleic, 22.67% arachidonic, and 2.55% eicosapentaenoic acid were identified, principally. The phycoerythrin production was 20.88 mg L⁻¹ with a purity of 2.75, making it viable for food-related applications. The results of these experiments provide insight into the high-scale production of phycoerythrin via the cultivation of P. purpureum in an inexpensive and straightforward culture system.