Nanotechnology to the Rescue: Therapeutic Strategies Based on Brown Algae for Neurodegenerative Diseases
In the last decades, marine macroalgae have drawn attention mainly because of their bioactive constituents. Most brown algae are distributed over coastal areas of the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, Aegean Sea and Black Sea, and their composition varies with endogenous and exogenous factors. Phlo...
Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-02-01
|
Series: | Applied Sciences |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/3/1883 |
_version_ | 1797625114062225408 |
---|---|
author | Anabela Gonçalves Mário Fernandes Margarida Lima João Pedro Gomes Filipa Silva Sara Castro Filipa Sampaio Andreia Castro Gomes |
author_facet | Anabela Gonçalves Mário Fernandes Margarida Lima João Pedro Gomes Filipa Silva Sara Castro Filipa Sampaio Andreia Castro Gomes |
author_sort | Anabela Gonçalves |
collection | DOAJ |
description | In the last decades, marine macroalgae have drawn attention mainly because of their bioactive constituents. Most brown algae are distributed over coastal areas of the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, Aegean Sea and Black Sea, and their composition varies with endogenous and exogenous factors. Phlorotannins, fatty acids, sterols and carbohydrates are some of the compounds responsible for biological activities related to cytotoxic, antiviral, antifungal, antibacterial, antidiabetic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential. In this review we seek to highlight some of the compounds responsible for these last two biological activities, which have enormous importance for the management of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer and Parkinson’s, with neuroinflammation and oxidative stress as hallmarks. However, one of the major problems associated with treating these diseases is the highly selective blood-brain-barrier, which can be overcome with nanocarriers used as delivery systems. Weighing the risks, benefits and toxicity of the used nanoparticles is nevertheless important. We also discuss zebrafish as an upcoming adequate biological model for in vivo screening of risks and benefits of such treatment strategies. This review aims to enable researchers working in the exploitation of these macroalgae and in the use of nanocarriers to potentiate the controlled delivery of bioactive compounds. |
first_indexed | 2024-03-11T09:52:14Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-9b1537c97ee645cda61f95e5da9863eb |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 2076-3417 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-03-11T09:52:14Z |
publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
publisher | MDPI AG |
record_format | Article |
series | Applied Sciences |
spelling | doaj.art-9b1537c97ee645cda61f95e5da9863eb2023-11-16T16:11:44ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172023-02-01133188310.3390/app13031883Nanotechnology to the Rescue: Therapeutic Strategies Based on Brown Algae for Neurodegenerative DiseasesAnabela Gonçalves0Mário Fernandes1Margarida Lima2João Pedro Gomes3Filipa Silva4Sara Castro5Filipa Sampaio6Andreia Castro Gomes7CBMA—Centro de Biologia Molecular e Ambiental/Aquatic Research Network (ARNET) Associate Laboratory, Departamento de Biologia, Universidade do Minho, 4710-057 Braga, PortugalCBMA—Centro de Biologia Molecular e Ambiental/Aquatic Research Network (ARNET) Associate Laboratory, Departamento de Biologia, Universidade do Minho, 4710-057 Braga, PortugalDepartment of Biology, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, PortugalDepartment of Biology, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, PortugalDepartment of Biology, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, PortugalDepartment of Biology, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, PortugalDepartment of Biology, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, PortugalCBMA—Centro de Biologia Molecular e Ambiental/Aquatic Research Network (ARNET) Associate Laboratory, Departamento de Biologia, Universidade do Minho, 4710-057 Braga, PortugalIn the last decades, marine macroalgae have drawn attention mainly because of their bioactive constituents. Most brown algae are distributed over coastal areas of the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, Aegean Sea and Black Sea, and their composition varies with endogenous and exogenous factors. Phlorotannins, fatty acids, sterols and carbohydrates are some of the compounds responsible for biological activities related to cytotoxic, antiviral, antifungal, antibacterial, antidiabetic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential. In this review we seek to highlight some of the compounds responsible for these last two biological activities, which have enormous importance for the management of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer and Parkinson’s, with neuroinflammation and oxidative stress as hallmarks. However, one of the major problems associated with treating these diseases is the highly selective blood-brain-barrier, which can be overcome with nanocarriers used as delivery systems. Weighing the risks, benefits and toxicity of the used nanoparticles is nevertheless important. We also discuss zebrafish as an upcoming adequate biological model for in vivo screening of risks and benefits of such treatment strategies. This review aims to enable researchers working in the exploitation of these macroalgae and in the use of nanocarriers to potentiate the controlled delivery of bioactive compounds.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/3/1883brown algaeantioxidant activityanti-inflammatory activityneurodegenerative diseasesnanoparticleszebrafish model |
spellingShingle | Anabela Gonçalves Mário Fernandes Margarida Lima João Pedro Gomes Filipa Silva Sara Castro Filipa Sampaio Andreia Castro Gomes Nanotechnology to the Rescue: Therapeutic Strategies Based on Brown Algae for Neurodegenerative Diseases Applied Sciences brown algae antioxidant activity anti-inflammatory activity neurodegenerative diseases nanoparticles zebrafish model |
title | Nanotechnology to the Rescue: Therapeutic Strategies Based on Brown Algae for Neurodegenerative Diseases |
title_full | Nanotechnology to the Rescue: Therapeutic Strategies Based on Brown Algae for Neurodegenerative Diseases |
title_fullStr | Nanotechnology to the Rescue: Therapeutic Strategies Based on Brown Algae for Neurodegenerative Diseases |
title_full_unstemmed | Nanotechnology to the Rescue: Therapeutic Strategies Based on Brown Algae for Neurodegenerative Diseases |
title_short | Nanotechnology to the Rescue: Therapeutic Strategies Based on Brown Algae for Neurodegenerative Diseases |
title_sort | nanotechnology to the rescue therapeutic strategies based on brown algae for neurodegenerative diseases |
topic | brown algae antioxidant activity anti-inflammatory activity neurodegenerative diseases nanoparticles zebrafish model |
url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/3/1883 |
work_keys_str_mv | AT anabelagoncalves nanotechnologytotherescuetherapeuticstrategiesbasedonbrownalgaeforneurodegenerativediseases AT mariofernandes nanotechnologytotherescuetherapeuticstrategiesbasedonbrownalgaeforneurodegenerativediseases AT margaridalima nanotechnologytotherescuetherapeuticstrategiesbasedonbrownalgaeforneurodegenerativediseases AT joaopedrogomes nanotechnologytotherescuetherapeuticstrategiesbasedonbrownalgaeforneurodegenerativediseases AT filipasilva nanotechnologytotherescuetherapeuticstrategiesbasedonbrownalgaeforneurodegenerativediseases AT saracastro nanotechnologytotherescuetherapeuticstrategiesbasedonbrownalgaeforneurodegenerativediseases AT filipasampaio nanotechnologytotherescuetherapeuticstrategiesbasedonbrownalgaeforneurodegenerativediseases AT andreiacastrogomes nanotechnologytotherescuetherapeuticstrategiesbasedonbrownalgaeforneurodegenerativediseases |