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Phycocyanine (PC) is a water-soluble, non-toxic and bioactive (antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, etc.) phycobiliprotein isolated, mainly, from cyanobacteria. Due to its several properties, PC is considered to be a rising biomolecule for Industrial exploitation, and has become an important research axis in order to promote its production, and optimize its biotechnological applications. The aim of this review article was to discuss the basic, and recent properties and applications of PC, and to bring together data on various aspects of PC stabilization, and PC nanopar-ticles formulation. In addition, an overview of the main structural characteristics and process-ses of PC extraction and purification were also discussed. The recent scientific research findings concluded that PC is a promising both functional, and bioactive additive in industry, especially, in food as a dye, in imaging as a fluorescent labeling agent, and in the phar-maceutical and nano-pharmaceutical field as a bioactive molecule and nanopar-ticles, particularly, due to it antitumor capacity. Phycocyanine is, thus, a promising bio-active molecules in pharmacological, and medical fields.

International audience; Biofunctional films based on bovine gelatin (G) incorporated with a food grade phycocyanin (PC) extract at various concentrations (1.25%, 2.5%, 6.25% and 12.5%; w/w) were developed. PC incorporation maintained the original solubility of gelatin (control) film, while, when added at 6.25% and 12.5% (w/w), PC decreased the L* and increased b*, Delta E and the opacity values of the films, which enhances their light-barrier feature. Further, the tensile strength (TS) and elongation at break (EAB) were reduced with the increase of PC content in G-based films, and were inversely correlated to films thickness with respective R-2 values of 0.94 and 0.97. Regarding microstructure, PC eliminated cracks present in the control film matrix resulting in a more smooth structure. Moreover, PC addition contributed to the thermal stabilization of the gelatin chain, delaying the glass transition temperature by 20 degrees C and conferring a thermal stability up to 250 degrees C. Regarding the antioxidant activity, the incorporation of 12.5% of PC significantly increased by 4.09, 3.2, 13.6 and 1.47-folds the chelating, reducing, beta-carotene bleaching inhibition and DPPH radical scavenging capacities, respectively. Likewise, G-PC films displayed antibacterial activity against several Gram ( - ) and Gram ( + ) bacteria. The present study suggested that G-PC films incorporated with 6.25% and 12.5% of PC extracted from Arthrospira sp. could be used as a promising colored external or inner (secondary) functional packaging for dehydrated food products as well as for hard or soft-shelled capsules containing powdered or oily active ingredients, although further analysis should be carried out.

International audience; Crude phycocyanin extract (PC-E) from a two-phase cultured Saharian Arthrospira sp. strain with a purity grade of 1.24 (reagent grade) was characterized regarding its stability, bio-functionality and bio-activity. PC-E showed higher solubility values above pH 6.0, while the maximum stability was achieved at pH 6.0. PC-E was stable only up to 50 degrees C, while the addition of stabilizing agents (PEG-4000 and sorbitol) significantly enhanced thermostability. FTIR and DSC analysis revealed that thermostabilization by PEG-4000 and sorbitol addition was achieved through hydrogen bound and amorphous glass formation. Emulsifying and foaming properties of PC-E were concentration-dependent. PC-E displayed antioxidant activity in a dose dependent manner, including beta-carotene bleaching inhibition, ferrous chelating effect, and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity of 63%, 78% and 100% at 5 mg mL(-1), respectively. Moreover, PC-E exhibited great antibacterial activity at 5 mg mL(-1) against Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus, Escherichia colt and Pseudomonas sp.