Application of microalgae and microalgal bioactive compounds in skin regeneration

The search for natural products with benefits for skin regeneration has gained a much broader interest worldwide. Microalgae represent a natural source of interesting bioactive compounds with an impact on wound-healing applications. The potential beneficial effects of microalgal carotenoids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, polysaccharides, and crude extracts have been reported in wound-healing applications due to their different biological activities, namely: i) the quenching of reactive oxygen species; ii) the suppression of the production of inflammatory cytokines and transduction cascades, and iii) the prevention of the microbial growth at the wound site. Wound dressings based on microalgae, and their bioactive compounds, which are aimed at being used in the treatment of skin injuries, are reviewed. Finally, the emerging strategies in the production of live microalgae-based photosynthetic scaffolds for skin regeneration are also outlined.