Maintaining sustainable production of healthy and nutritious food represents a major global challenge. Cultivated meat could reduce the environmental impact of livestock production, but it remains costly, largely due to the expense of fetal bovine serum, a common cell culture media supplement. Algal and cyanobacterial proteins, particularly phycobiliproteins, represent promising sustainable sources of potentially bioactive peptides that may contribute to the development of serum-reduced or serum-free culture media. This study investigated the potential of hydrolysates prepared using the protein extracts of the red alga Porphyra haitanensis and the cyanobacterium Arthrospira platensis as functional supplements for cell cultivation in a low-serum environment. Twelve hydrolysates were generated by treating protein extracts from Arthrospira platensis and Porphyra haitanensis with six proteolytic enzymes: pepsin, trypsin, chymotrypsin, subtilisin, thermolysin and proteinase K. The effects of these hydrolysates were studied in three cell models of mammalian (CHO-K1), avian (QM7), and fish (MACK1) origin. The effects of hydrolysates on cell viability, proliferation, and antioxidant activity were evaluated. A. platensis–chymotrypsin hydrolysate significantly improved QM7 cell viability compared to control in both 80% reduced-serum and tryptose phosphate broth conditions (p ≤ 0.0001). Additionally, peptide composition analysis and identification of amino acid sequences provided preliminary insights into potentially bioactive chromopeptides associated with the maintenance and promotion of cellular growth. Algae/cyanobacteria-derived hydrolysates positively regulated cell viability and proliferation in serum-reduced conditions, although effects were dependent on the algal species, enzymatic treatment, and cell type. These findings highlight their potential as sustainable supplements for alternative cell culture media.

Fetal bovine serum (FBS) is commonly added to cell culture media, but for cultivated meat production to become truly sustainable, ethical and affordable, an alternative to it is necessary. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate how myoblasts could be cultivated in reduced-serum media using animal-free scaffolds. Novel chitosan/carrageenan hydrogels were developed and conjugated with peptides obtained by digestion of C-phycocyanin from cyanobacteria Arthrospira platensis, their physico-chemical properties were assessed, and their ability to serve as scaffolds for myoblast cultivation in reduced-serum media was examined. These hydrogels were found to possess suitable physical characteristics to serve as scaffolds for cell culture, and it was demonstrated that their use made quail muscle clone 7 (QM7) cell cultivation possible in reduced-FBS media. These hydrogels, therefore, are a promising candidate for use as scaffolds in future cultivated meat production studies.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive cancer marked by oxidative stress, metabolic rewiring, and resistance to cell death. Ferroptosis, a regulated cell death driven by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation, represents a promising therapeutic vulnerability in PDAC; however, intrinsic resistance to ferroptosis limits its therapeutic exploitation. This study shows that 4-aminoquinoline derivatives sensitize PDAC cell lines (MIA PaCa-2 and PANC-1) to erastin-induced ferroptotic cell death. Ferroptosis sensitization occurred independently of caspase-3/7 activation and was associated with increased ROS production, mitochondrial oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, and redox imbalance. Importantly, sensitivity to ferroptosis was accompanied by decreased GSH levels, reduced intracellular cystine levels, and differential regulation of the KEAP1-Nrf2-p62 axis. While PANC-1 cells exhibited enhanced oxidative stress and KEAP1 upregulation, MIA PaCa-2 cells maintained relative redox homeostasis unless exposed to combined treatment conditions. To our knowledge, this study provides the first evidence that 4- aminoquinoline derivatives promote sensitization to ferroptosis in PDAC and highlights the therapeutic potential of targeting redox metabolism and stress-adaptive signaling to overcome resistance to therapy in pancreatic cancer.