Alginates are natural polysaccharides that are extracted from brown seaweeds and widely used for their rheological properties. The main step in the extraction protocol used in the alginate industry is that of alkaline extraction. A batch process is used for this step, which is time-, water-, and reactantconsuming. The possibility of extracting by reactive extrusion was investigated. The reactiv...

Alginates are widely used in tissue engineering technologies, e.g., in cell encapsulation, in drug delivery and various immobilization procedures. The success rates of these studies are highly variable due to different degrees of tissue response. A cause for this variation in success is, among other factors, its content of inflammatory components. There is an urgent need for a technology to tes...

Mineral composition of algal biomass from Fucus vesiculosus (the Baltic Sea, Estonia) is rich in light elements (Mg, K, Ca, Na) and halogens (Br, I). Arsenic content is also high (over 300 ppm); the content of other toxic elements (Hg, Sb, Se, etc.) is extremely low. Mineralization of the algal whole biomass does not depend on seasonal varieties. The content of α-L-guluronic acid residues, and ...

Background: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is frequently seen during pregnancy with prevalence of 80%. Proton pump inhibitors (PPI) are the most effective drugs used in treatment symptoms. Alginates natural polysaccharide polymer which builds a non-systemic barrier against acid and food oesophagus. Aims objectives were to compare efficacy alginate versus PPIs pregnant women, determine t...

some manufacturers claim to have produced new irreversible hydro-colloids that are able to maintain their dimensional stability during storage. the present study evaluated the effect of storage time on dimensional stability of three alginates: hydrogum 5, tropicalgin and alginoplast.in this experimental in-vitro trial, a total of 90 alginate impressions were made from a dentoform model using hy...

Alginate, or irreversible hydrocolloid, is one of the most accepted impression materials used in dentistry. However, some substances existing in these materials can be toxic. The aim of this study was to assess the cytotoxicity of alginates for dental applications. Fourteen different alginates were assessed: Jeltrate, Jeltrate Plus, Jeltrate Chromatic, Alga Gel, Printer Gel, Ava Gel, New Print,...

Brown seaweeds are abundant in Portuguese coastline and represent an almost unexploited marine economic resource. One of the most common species, easily available for harvesting in the northwest coast, is Saccorhiza polyschides grows in the lowest shore and costal rocky reefs. It is almost exclusively used by local farmers as natural fertilizer, but contains a substantial amount of valuable com...