Cold Biotechnology: Cosmetic, Pharmaceutical, and Therapeutic Applications of Antarctic Psychrophilic Fungi

Antarctic ecosystems host psychrophilic and psychrotolerant fungi whose set of adaptations represents a biotechnologically valuable and underexploited genetic resource. This review synthesizes the current literature on the bioactive secondary metabolites and cold-active enzymes produced by Antarctic fungi, together with their biomedical, cosmetic, and industrial applications, and examines the regulatory and ethical framework governing their exploitation under the Antarctic Treaty System. Antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and photoprotective compounds—together with cold-active lipases, proteases, and amylases—were identified as the main classes of biotechnologically relevant molecules, with the Cadophora genus and the lipase B of Moesziomyces antarcticus (Candida antarctica) (CALB) highlighted as paradigmatic cases. Evidence considered shows that, despite promising bioactivities and at least one globally commercialized product (CALB/Novozym®), most findings remain confined to the academic level, revealing an early-stage translational field. The CALB case further exposes an unresolved regulatory gap: minimal, non-destructive sampling can generate substantial commercial value without any derived benefit for either the country of the researchers involved in the isolation, Antarctica, or the international community. These findings underscore the need for a specific legal instrument within the Antarctic Treaty System establishing rational bioprospection guidelines and mechanisms for equitable benefit-sharing.