Alginate

Alginate is a linear copolymer composed of β-D-mannuronic acid and α-L-guluronic acid residues, found naturally in the cell walls of brown seaweed[2][3][5]. Alginate forms gels in the presence of divalent cations (e.g., Ca²⁺), and its chemical properties are determined by the ratio and sequence of M and G monomers. Commercially, alginate is widely used as a hydrogel, stabilizer, thickener, and wound dressing, and is an excipient in drug delivery systems due to its biocompatibility, biodegradability, and ability to form stable gels[1][2][4][6]. Alginate is not a classical therapeutic target, receptor, or enzyme, but is a biomaterial and formulation agent. Occasionally, it plays a biological role in bacterial biofilms, notably in the pathogenicity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in cystic fibrosis[5].

Other names

Alginic acidsodium alginatecalcium alginatepotassium alginatealginAlloid Gpoly(mannuronic acid), sodium saltKaltostatbarium alginatecopper alginatesodium calcium alginateXantalginVocoloid