Oral Delivery of Proteins and Peptides: Concepts and Applications - Challenges in Delivery of Therapeutic Genomics and Proteomics - page 501

l Sodium form of all three types is soluble in both
cold and hot water.
l Other cation forms of kappa and iota are soluble
only in hot water.
l All forms of lambda are soluble in cold water.

show a reversible decrease in viscosity at elevated
temperatures. Iota and lambda carrageenan have
excellent electrolyte tolerance; kappa's being
somewhat less. Electrolytes will however decrease
solution viscosity. The best solution stability occurs
in the pH 6-10 range. It is compatible with most
nonionic and anionic water-soluble thickeners. It is
strongly synergistic with locust bean gum and strongly
interactive with proteins. Solutions are susceptible to
shear and heat degradation.
l Excellent thermoreversible properties
l Used also for microencapsulation

Sodium alginate consists chiefly
of the alginic acid, a polyuronic
acid composed of -D-mannuronic
acid residues empirical formula:
(C 6 H 7 O 6 Na) n anionic polysaccharide
extracted principally from the giant
kelp Macrocystis Pyrifera as alginic
acid and neutralized to sodium salt

l Purified carbohydrate product extracted from
brown seaweed by the use of dilute alkali
l Occurs as a white or buff powder, which is odorless
and tasteless
l pH 7.2
l  20-400 cps (1% aqueous solution)
l  Water, forming a viscous, colloidal solution
l Insoluble in other organic solvents and acids where
the pH of the resulting solution falls below 3.0

l Safe and nonallergenic
l Incompatible with acridine derivatives, crystal violet,
phenyl mercuric nitrate and acetate, calcium salts,
alcohol in concentrations greater than 5%, and heavy
metals
l Stabilizer in emulsion, suspending agent, tablet
disintegrating agent, tablet binder
l Also used as a hemostatic agent in surgical dressings
l Excellent gel formation properties
l Biocompatible
l Microstructure and viscosity are dependent on the
chemical composition.
l Used as immobilization matrices for cells and enzymes,
controlled release of bioactive substances, and
injectable microcapsules for treating neurodegenerative
and hormone deficiency diseases
l Lacks yield value

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