Chapter 26
Encapsulation of Microalgal Pigments
Bruna de Souza Fonseca, Thaiane Marques da Silva,
and Cristiano Ragagnin de Menezes
Abstract This review takes a critical approach on ways to increase the stability
of pigments (phycobilins, chlorophylls, and carotenoids) using microencapsulation.
Natural pigments are important nutraceuticals known for their potent antioxidant
activities and they have been widely studied and used as high-quality health supplements. In this context, microalgae are the most promising sources and are devoid
of the toxic effects associated with synthetic derivatives. Due to being subjected
to extraction and purification treatments, such compounds may be more exposed to
extrinsic actions of the environment, such as degradation by light, oxygen, adverse pH
conditions, among others, in possible applications in food matrices or nutraceuticals.
For this, microencapsulation appears as an alternative to protect these compounds
and, in this way, increase the stability for a longer period than the conventional one. In
this chapter, the main encapsulation techniques that may be useful for improving the
stability of microalgal pigments, such as internal and external ionic gelling, complex
coacervation, drying, and freeze drying, among others, as well as the main polymers
can be used to coat these pigments, thus creating new possibilities and applications
trends for human health.
Keywords Microalgae · Microencapsulation · Encapsulation techniques ·
Nutraceuticals · Health supplements
26.1 Microalgae
The microalgae are algal microorganisms considered one of the oldest living beings
on the planet (Andrade and Filho 2014) that live predominantly in the aquatic environment and have heterogeneous characteristics. Because they are not considered a
taxonomic classification, microalgae constitute a group in which different species or
classes of living beings are accepted.
B. de Souza Fonseca · T. M. da Silva · C. R. de Menezes (B)
Food Science and Technology Department, Federal University of Santa Maria, UFSM, Roraima
Avenue 1000, Santa Maria, RS 97105-900, Brazil
e-mail: cristiano.ufsm@gmail.com
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
E. Jacob-Lopes et al. (eds.), Pigments from Microalgae Handbook,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-50971-2_26
635
Encapsulation of Microalgal Pigments
Bruna de Souza Fonseca, Thaiane Marques da Silva,
and Cristiano Ragagnin de Menezes
Abstract This review takes a critical approach on ways to increase the stability
of pigments (phycobilins, chlorophylls, and carotenoids) using microencapsulation.
Natural pigments are important nutraceuticals known for their potent antioxidant
activities and they have been widely studied and used as high-quality health supplements. In this context, microalgae are the most promising sources and are devoid
of the toxic effects associated with synthetic derivatives. Due to being subjected
to extraction and purification treatments, such compounds may be more exposed to
extrinsic actions of the environment, such as degradation by light, oxygen, adverse pH
conditions, among others, in possible applications in food matrices or nutraceuticals.
For this, microencapsulation appears as an alternative to protect these compounds
and, in this way, increase the stability for a longer period than the conventional one. In
this chapter, the main encapsulation techniques that may be useful for improving the
stability of microalgal pigments, such as internal and external ionic gelling, complex
coacervation, drying, and freeze drying, among others, as well as the main polymers
can be used to coat these pigments, thus creating new possibilities and applications
trends for human health.
Keywords Microalgae · Microencapsulation · Encapsulation techniques ·
Nutraceuticals · Health supplements
26.1 Microalgae
The microalgae are algal microorganisms considered one of the oldest living beings
on the planet (Andrade and Filho 2014) that live predominantly in the aquatic environment and have heterogeneous characteristics. Because they are not considered a
taxonomic classification, microalgae constitute a group in which different species or
classes of living beings are accepted.
B. de Souza Fonseca · T. M. da Silva · C. R. de Menezes (B)
Food Science and Technology Department, Federal University of Santa Maria, UFSM, Roraima
Avenue 1000, Santa Maria, RS 97105-900, Brazil
e-mail: cristiano.ufsm@gmail.com
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
E. Jacob-Lopes et al. (eds.), Pigments from Microalgae Handbook,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-50971-2_26
635