LF sodium alginate

Alginates are hydrocolloids, water soluble biopolymers extracted from brown seaweed. It has multiple properties such as gelling, film-forming, thickening and stabilizing characteristics.

As formulators who are familiar with alginates have already learned, this hydrocolloid has many attributes which naturally lend to a variety of applications. They possess unique, valuable functionality in esophageal anti-reflux suspensions and tablets, and have demonstrated promise in the area of controlled release medications. They also offer benefits as viscosifiers and disintegrants, and can be customized so that their gel-forming characteristics facilitate matrix and structural building properties. Alginates’ wide range of gel strengths have made them a mainstay of the dental impression and denture adhesive markets for decades. And in the area of wound care and dermatology their ability to create films, foams and fibers offers a wide range of potential uses.