Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42930488›Full record

ReviewMarine drugs2026

Beyond Beauty: Microalgae and Cyanobacteria as Next-Generation Platforms for Functional Dermocosmetics, Cutaneous Delivery, and Skin Health.

Clément Daviaud, Herminia Dominguez, Luana Granja Fernández, María Lourdes Mourelle, Kévin Baranger, Nicolas Bridiau, Laurent Picot

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Marine drugs, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Clément DaviaudUMR CNRS 7266 Littoral Environnement et Sociétés LIENSs, Institut du Littoral et de l'Environnement, La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France.
Herminia DominguezCINBIO, Faculty of Sciences, Campus Ourense, Universidade de Vigo, 32004 Ourense, Spain.ORCID 0000-0002-6475-3242
Luana Granja FernándezCINBIO, Faculty of Sciences, Campus Ourense, Universidade de Vigo, 32004 Ourense, Spain.ORCID 0009-0007-4909-6962
María Lourdes MourelleVigo Campus Lagoas Marcosende, Universidade de Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Spain.ORCID 0000-0002-7555-8987
Kévin BarangerUMR CNRS 7266 Littoral Environnement et Sociétés LIENSs, Institut du Littoral et de l'Environnement, La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France.
Nicolas BridiauUMR CNRS 7266 Littoral Environnement et Sociétés LIENSs, Institut du Littoral et de l'Environnement, La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France.ORCID 0000-0003-1839-9286
Laurent PicotUMR CNRS 7266 Littoral Environnement et Sociétés LIENSs, Institut du Littoral et de l'Environnement, La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France.ORCID 0000-0003-4656-3557

Funding

Interreg Atlantic Area Programme through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), under the SMACC+ project, Sustainable Microalgae and Cyanobacteria-Based Bioactive Com-pounds for Cosmeceuticals and Nutraceuticals (project code: EAPA_0145/2024). EAPA_0145/2024
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Microalgae and cyanobacteria are valuable sources of bioactive ingredients and innovative biological systems for skin applications. Their metabolites include exopolysaccharides (EPS), mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs), carotenoids, phycobiliproteins, peptides and lipopeptides, polyunsaturated lipids, chlorophyll derivatives, and distinctive secondary metabolites such as scytonemin. Cyanobacteria additionally provide defined molecular candidates, including sacran, C-phycocyanin, MAAs, scytonemin-related compounds, and specialized peptide scaffolds. These compounds may support hydration and barrier function, photoprotection, control of oxidative stress and inflammation, pigmentation, antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity, extracellular-matrix preservation, and wound repair. This review examines major bioactive families, their sources and mechanisms, with particular emphasis on the strength of evidence supporting skin applications. Recent developments from 2024 to 2026 are highlighted, including microalgal extracellular vesicles (nanoalgosomes), photoactivated antimicrobial systems, photosynthetic hydrogels and microneedle patches, green extraction and biorefinery strategies, reconstructed human skin and skin-on-chip models, and artificial-intelligence-assisted formulation. Most reported effects remain supported mainly by biochemical, cellular, or preclinical evidence, whereas human validation is still limited. Translation will, therefore, depend on rigorous chemical standardization, effective cutaneous delivery, demonstrated stability and safety, scalable manufacturing, and validation in human-relevant models. Microalgae and cyanobacteria thus extend beyond conventional natural extracts toward next-generation dermocosmetic and cutaneous-delivery platforms.

Indexed as

CyanobacteriaMicroalgaeSkinAdministration, CutaneousAnimalsCosmeticsHumansCosmeticscutaneous deliverycyanobacteriadermocosmeticsexopolysaccharidesextracellular vesiclesmicroalgaemycosporine-like amino acidsphotoprotectionphotosynthetic biomaterialsskin microbiome

Identifiers

PMID42930488
PMCPMC13707170

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.