Introduction
6 Introduction
1.4.3 Marine Nutraceuticals
Marine nutraceuticals can be derived from a vast array
of sources, including marine plants, microorganisms,
and sponges. Marine nutraceutical products currently
promoted to various countries include fish oil, chitin,
chitosan, marine enzymes, chondroitin from shark cartilage, sea cucumbers, and mussels. As mentioned earlier,
the marine world represents a largely unexploited reservoir of bioactive substances that can be used for food
processing, storage, and protection. Enzymes extracted
from fish and marine organisms can provide numerous advantages over traditional enzymes. Fish protein
such as collagens and their gelatin derivatives operate at relatively low temperatures and can be used
in heat sensitive processes such as gelling and clarifying. Polysaccharides derived from alga, including
alginate, carrageenan, and agar types are widely used as
thickeners and stabilizers in a variety of food ingredients. In addition, Omega-PUFA (polyunsaturated fatty
acid) is an important ingredient in the nutraceutical industry [1.46]. It has been proven that Omega-PUFA,
especially eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexenoic acid (DHA) play a significant role in number
of aspects of human health [1.47]. The application potential of chitin and chitosan are multidimensional, for
example, in food and nutrition, biotechnology, material science, drugs and pharmaceuticals, agriculture and
environmental protection, and gene therapy [1.48–52].
Fucoidan is a complex-sulfated polysaccharide, which
can be derived from brown algae. Fucoidan has been
used in several biological activities and is important for
its high bioactive properties, for example, antibacterial,
anticoagulant, antiviral, antitumor, etc., and many more
yet to be explored [1.53].
1.4.4 Marine Biomaterials
In the recent years, much attention has been paid
to marine-derived biomaterials for various biological,
biomedical, and environmental applications. A recent
report estimates that the global markets for marine
biotechnological products might exceed US$ 4:1 billion
by 2015, to which the following product segments,
marine biomaterials (including food hydrocolloids)
could contribute over 40%; marine bioactive substances for healthcare would be the most important and
fastest-growing sector. Non-toxic, biocompatible, natural chitin and chitosan from crustaceans have potential
use in cosmetics, food, and pharmaceuticals [1.54].
Seaweeds are the abundant source for polysaccharides,
which are commercial products (alginate, agar, agarose,
and carrageenan) [1.55–61].
1.4.5 Marine Bioenergy
Bioenergy from marine algae is a groundbreaking
achievement in the field of marine biotechnology [1.62–
67]. Biofuels derived from marine algae are a potential source of sustainable energy that can contribute
to future global demands. The realization of this potential will require manipulation of the fundamental
biology of algal physiology to increase the efficiency
with which solar energy is ultimately converted into
usable biomass [1.68]. Anaerobic digestion of microalgae is a necessary step to make microalgae biodiesel
and biogas sustainable [1.69, 70]. The potential biomass
sources for bioenergy are photosynthetic microalgae
and cyanobacteria. There are versatile marine organisms that can be used in the production of biogas,
biodiesel, bioethanol, and biohydrogen [1.71–76].
1.4.6 Marine Bioremediation
Bioremediation is also an important area of marine
environmental biotechnology. Marine microorganisms
have the capacity to degrade the variety of organic
pollutants. Pseudomonas chlororaphis produces pyoverdin, which catalyzes the degradation of organotin
compounds in seawater. Biopolymers and biosurfactants are also applied to environmental waste management and treatment [1.77–81].
1.5 Research Scope
Marine biotechnology plays a vital role in the exploration and study of various marine resources. Marine
biotechnology comprises a broad range of subjects: marine bioactive substances, genetics, marine culture, fermentation engineering, and enzyme engineering. The
marine biotechnology market is still in the promising
stages; during the years 2008 and 2009, the global
marine biotechnology market witnessed a slowdown
owing to the global economic meltdown. The market
gained drive in 2010 with the recovery of the economic
situation and is expected to post substantial growth in
ensuing years.
6 Introduction
1.4.3 Marine Nutraceuticals
Marine nutraceuticals can be derived from a vast array
of sources, including marine plants, microorganisms,
and sponges. Marine nutraceutical products currently
promoted to various countries include fish oil, chitin,
chitosan, marine enzymes, chondroitin from shark cartilage, sea cucumbers, and mussels. As mentioned earlier,
the marine world represents a largely unexploited reservoir of bioactive substances that can be used for food
processing, storage, and protection. Enzymes extracted
from fish and marine organisms can provide numerous advantages over traditional enzymes. Fish protein
such as collagens and their gelatin derivatives operate at relatively low temperatures and can be used
in heat sensitive processes such as gelling and clarifying. Polysaccharides derived from alga, including
alginate, carrageenan, and agar types are widely used as
thickeners and stabilizers in a variety of food ingredients. In addition, Omega-PUFA (polyunsaturated fatty
acid) is an important ingredient in the nutraceutical industry [1.46]. It has been proven that Omega-PUFA,
especially eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexenoic acid (DHA) play a significant role in number
of aspects of human health [1.47]. The application potential of chitin and chitosan are multidimensional, for
example, in food and nutrition, biotechnology, material science, drugs and pharmaceuticals, agriculture and
environmental protection, and gene therapy [1.48–52].
Fucoidan is a complex-sulfated polysaccharide, which
can be derived from brown algae. Fucoidan has been
used in several biological activities and is important for
its high bioactive properties, for example, antibacterial,
anticoagulant, antiviral, antitumor, etc., and many more
yet to be explored [1.53].
1.4.4 Marine Biomaterials
In the recent years, much attention has been paid
to marine-derived biomaterials for various biological,
biomedical, and environmental applications. A recent
report estimates that the global markets for marine
biotechnological products might exceed US$ 4:1 billion
by 2015, to which the following product segments,
marine biomaterials (including food hydrocolloids)
could contribute over 40%; marine bioactive substances for healthcare would be the most important and
fastest-growing sector. Non-toxic, biocompatible, natural chitin and chitosan from crustaceans have potential
use in cosmetics, food, and pharmaceuticals [1.54].
Seaweeds are the abundant source for polysaccharides,
which are commercial products (alginate, agar, agarose,
and carrageenan) [1.55–61].
1.4.5 Marine Bioenergy
Bioenergy from marine algae is a groundbreaking
achievement in the field of marine biotechnology [1.62–
67]. Biofuels derived from marine algae are a potential source of sustainable energy that can contribute
to future global demands. The realization of this potential will require manipulation of the fundamental
biology of algal physiology to increase the efficiency
with which solar energy is ultimately converted into
usable biomass [1.68]. Anaerobic digestion of microalgae is a necessary step to make microalgae biodiesel
and biogas sustainable [1.69, 70]. The potential biomass
sources for bioenergy are photosynthetic microalgae
and cyanobacteria. There are versatile marine organisms that can be used in the production of biogas,
biodiesel, bioethanol, and biohydrogen [1.71–76].
1.4.6 Marine Bioremediation
Bioremediation is also an important area of marine
environmental biotechnology. Marine microorganisms
have the capacity to degrade the variety of organic
pollutants. Pseudomonas chlororaphis produces pyoverdin, which catalyzes the degradation of organotin
compounds in seawater. Biopolymers and biosurfactants are also applied to environmental waste management and treatment [1.77–81].
1.5 Research Scope
Marine biotechnology plays a vital role in the exploration and study of various marine resources. Marine
biotechnology comprises a broad range of subjects: marine bioactive substances, genetics, marine culture, fermentation engineering, and enzyme engineering. The
marine biotechnology market is still in the promising
stages; during the years 2008 and 2009, the global
marine biotechnology market witnessed a slowdown
owing to the global economic meltdown. The market
gained drive in 2010 with the recovery of the economic
situation and is expected to post substantial growth in
ensuing years.