Monday, 16 June 2025

Under the auspices of Prof. Dr. Osama Qaddour, Dean of the Faculty, and Prof. Dr. Shimaa Shalabi, Head of the Aquaculture Department, third and fourth-year students in the Aquaculture Technology program discussed graduation project 1, field training 2, and the outcomes of graduation project 2.

The group led by Prof. Dr. Al-Azab Mohamed Tahoun began by presenting a project on

-Reusing marine invertebrate ink to produce natural products

This project aims to exploit squid and octopus ink as a natural source of melanin and use it in the manufacture of natural cosmetics as an alternative to harmful chemical products. The protein remaining after melanin extraction is used to produce fish feed, which enhances the sustainability of the project and reduces marine waste.

Then, Associate Professor/ Hagar Siddiq Daghish

- Extracting marine collagen from jellyfish as a sustainable alternative to animal collagen.

Therefore, this project relies on utilizing unused jellyfish on beaches and converting them into a high-value product.  Marine collagen has excellent biological properties in medical and cosmetic applications and helps the project achieve some of the Sustainable Development Goals and Egypt's Vision 2030, including:

Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure.

Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production.

Goal 13: Climate Action.

Goal 14: Life Below Water.

B. From the depths of the sea to a healthy smile

This project relies on the use of green seaweed (Ulva Lactuca) as a natural source for preparing toothpaste.

This algae is considered a natural treasure rich in Ulvan, a compound with antibacterial properties. It is a natural, safe and environmentally friendly product that effectively improves oral health without side effects.

C. Extracting agar from red algae Gracilaria salicornia.

 These are marine algae that are widespread on our coasts in both the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.

These algae are characterized by their high capacity to produce agar, as well as their rapid growth and adaptation to the coastal environment, making them an environmentally friendly renewable resource.

Agar is a natural polymer extracted from the cell walls of certain types of red algae. It has unique properties that make it useful in many industries, including:

Food: It is used as a thickener and stabilizer in the manufacture of confectionery, jams, and dairy products.

In laboratories, it is used in the preparation of agar media for the growth of bacteria and fungi.

In cosmetics and medicine, it is used as a moisturizer and stabilizer in many cosmetic and medical formulations.

Then there is the group of Dr. Haitham Gamal Abu Al-Ala

Development of fibrillar nanostructures based on marine collagen from tilapia skin for wound healing applications.

The graduation project involved presenting an innovative approach to manufacturing fibrous nanostructures via electrospinning, composed of collagen extracted from tilapia skin, reinforced with polycaprolactone (PCL) and silver vanadate (AgVO₃) nanoparticles. Marine collagen is a sustainable and pathogen-free alternative to traditional animal sources and was successfully extracted, with its biochemical safety confirmed by ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy. The electrospun structures were produced in two formulations: a blend of PCL and collagen, and a blend of PCL/collagen with incorporated AgVO₃ nanoparticles. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed fibers with a regular shape and optimal pores, while contact angle measurements showed an improvement in the hydrophilicity of the AgVO₃-containing structures. Antibacterial activity tests showed clear inhibition zones against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, confirming the antimicrobial efficacy of silver ions (Ag⁺).

In healing wounds in living organisms, experiments using Sprague-Dawley rats showed a significant improvement in wound healing rates, with treated groups reaching approximately 95% healing within 14 days. These results confirm the synergistic potential of marine collagen and silver vanadate in the design of new generations of bioactive and antibacterial dressings.

Group Dr./ Alaa Saeed Hassan

A. "Design and implementation of a fish fodder press."

The project aims to manufacture a low-cost feed press that can be used in fish feed production in a manner suitable for small farmers, thereby contributing to reducing production costs and improving feed quality.

Project features:

Simple design, easy to operate and maintain.

Possibility to control the size and shape of the pellets.

Use of local raw materials to reduce costs.

Support for sustainable development efforts in the fisheries sector.

B. Extraction of chitosan from blue crab shells to produce certain products

The project aims to manufacture medical creams using the properties of chitosan extracted from crabs, resulting in

Chitosan - wound healing cream for treating wounds

Chitosan - carbabol-based hydrogel, also for treating wounds

Chitosan carbabol-based anti-acne cream

for treating acne

💡 This project is a step towards linking academic study with practical application and encouraging local innovation to serve the community.

C.  Graduation Project Group 1

-Vertical farming

The students presented their project proposal, which will be implemented during the 2025-2026 academic year.

After that, the students discussed what they had practiced in the various academic departments, including the Fish Processing Technology Department.

It was conducted under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Hisham Fawzi, the Engineering Department under the supervision of Dr. Ahmed Ragab and teaching assistant/ Ali Munir, the Aquatic Environment Department under the supervision of Dr. Hala Fakhry and teaching assistant/ Mahmoud Abdelsalam, the Economics Department under the supervision of Dr. Reham Hamdy, the Aquaculture Department under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Shaimaa Mohamed Shalabi - Head of Department, and the teaching staff members of the department

Prof. Dr. Al-Azab Mohamed Tahoun

Prof. Dr. Mohamed Mohamed Saeed

Assoc Prof /Hagar Seddik Dagish

Dr. Haytham Jamal Abu Al-Ela

Dr. Alaa Saeed Hassan

and the members of the associated staff

Assistant Lecturer/ Fatma Zaki

Assistant Lecturer/ Nima Al-Arabi

Mr. Abdulrahman Al-Khamisi

Good luck to all students