Natural polymers widely used to produce drug carriers and active dressings include alginates, gelatine, chitosan and hyaluronic acid. In this study, alginate films were obtained bypassing the process of lyophilization. Produced from the common bladder wrack (Fucus vesiculosus L.), they can be used in food chemistry, wound treatment (tissue infections, burns) and in skin care; they are also good...

Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy microanalysis (EDX), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Archimedes' Principle were used to determine the characteristics of inorganic filler particles in five dental alginates, including Cavex ColorChange (C), Hydrogum 5 (H5), Hydrogum (H), Orthoprint (O), and Jeltrate Plus (JP). The different alginate powders (0.5 mg) were fixed on plastic stubs (n = 5...

The wide industrial application of phycocolloids (e.g. alginates, agar and carrageenans) is based on their particular properties to form gels in aqueous solution. These seaweed polysaccharides present a chemical structure related with the taxonomic position of the algae: carrageenans are produced by carrageenophytes (red algae belonging mainly to the genera Kappaphycus, Eucheuma, Chondrus, Giga...

Heavy metal body burden can contribute to chronic disease, as well as interfere with the body's capacity to recover from illness. The five case studies presented here show that reduction in toxic heavy metals (74% average decrease) was achieved without side effects, with the use of PectaSol modified citrus pectin (MCP) (EcoNugenics; Santa Rosa, CA, USA) alone or with an MCP/alginates combinatio...

We have investigated the possible effects of algal polysaccharides on postprandial blood glucose and insulin responses in an animal model, the pig. Three seaweed fibres of different viscosities, extracted from Palmaria palmata (PP), Eucheuma cottonii (EC), or Laminaria digitata (LD), were compared to purified cellulose (CEL). Blood glucose and plasma insulin levels were monitored and intestinal...

Disease prevention strategies fall into two broad categories. These are reactive and proactive strategies. There are various tools available for these and various management philosophies incorporate some or all of them. The most common tools for reactive management of diseases are antibiotics. In the US there are very few antibiotics that are specifically approved for use in aquaculture, though...

Fluorescent Pseudomonas strain Psd is a soil isolate, possessing multiple plant growth promoting (PGP) properties and biocontrol potential. In addition, the strain also possesses high Zn2+ biosorption capability. In this study, we have investigated the role exopolysaccharides (EPS) play in Zn2+ biosorption. We have identified that alginates are the prime components contributing to Zn2+ biosorpt...

The development of hydrogels for cartilage replacement and soft robotics has highlighted a challenge: load-bearing hydrogels need to be both stiff and tough. Several approaches have been reported to improve the toughness of hydrogels, but simultaneously achieving high stiffness and toughness remains difficult. Here we report that alginate-polyacrylamide hydrogels can simultaneously achieve high...

Partial periodate oxidation of hyaluronan (HA) leads to ring opening of the 4-linked D-glucuronate (GlcA) residues, providing a particularly flexible element within otherwise semi-flexible chains. This leads to compaction of the chains as demonstrated by a pronounced decrease in the intrinsic persistence length, which was determined on the basis of the molecular weight dependence of radius of g...