Alginate Molecular Size Analysis Service

High-quality Molecular Size Analysis of Alginate at Creative Biolabs

Alginate is a natural product derived primarily from brown algae, such as seaweed. It is a polysaccharide with sticky and gelling properties. Alginate is often used as a thickener, emulsifier, and gel in the food industry, and it is used to prepare drug coatings, and oral preparations in the pharmaceutical field. Molecular weight is one of the important factors affecting the performance and quality of alginate. Creative Biolabs has a mature Seaweed Profiling platform. We provide a series of professional analysis services, including Sugars, Amino Acids, Elements, Pigments, Vitamins, alginate molecular size analysis, and other services.

Alginate with different molecular weights performs differently in terms of water absorption and gel-forming ability. Therefore, analyzing the molecular size of alginate better controls product quality and optimizes product performance. Methods for molecular weight analysis of alginate mainly include gel permeation chromatography (GPC), viscometry, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), etc. Through these analysis methods, information such as alginate molecular weight distribution and average molecular weight are obtained, providing necessary data support for its rational application. Among them, GPC is a commonly used molecular size determination method, and its determination includes the following steps:

• Step 1: Preparation of samples and standard curve

We dissolve the alginate sample in an appropriate solvent. Then prepare a series of alginate with different molecular weights as reference materials, and establish a calibration curve for subsequent analysis of the alginate molecular weight in the sample.

• Step 2: Balance the system

We select the appropriate column type and solvent system according to experimental needs. Generally, water or buffered salt solution is used. Then adjust the GPC instrument parameters, including column temperature, flow rate, detector settings, etc., and perform system calibration and balance.

• Step 3: Sample loading

We inject the dissolved alginate sample into the GPC system and start the analysis program to determine the molecular weight.

• Step 4: Data analysis

We used chromatography software to record the occurrence of individual molecular size peaks, including relative retention times and signal intensities. Then, the average molecular size, molecular size distribution range, and other information of the alginate sample to be tested are calculated according to the calibration curve.

The above are the basic steps for molecular size analysis of alginate. During specific operations, we will make adjustments and optimizations according to experimental conditions and instrument characteristics. In addition, as an expert in the field of analysis, Creative Biolabs will also provide custom analysis solutions for any of your samples. Please contact us to obtain your personalized analysis services. We will provide you with a high-quality service that exceeds your expectations.

Published data

Sodium alginate (SA) exhibits good stability, gel properties, and high viscosity in aqueous solutions, which is suitable for addition in the cosmetics, food, and pharmaceutical industries. Its low toxicity and excellent biocompatibility make it ideal for biomedical material preparation. SA will generate oxidized sodium alginate (OSA) after partial oxidation, which can be better used as a hydrogel for drug delivery systems and tissue engineering. The authors used different concentrations of sodium periodate for the oxidation reaction of SA and prepared OSA with different molecular weights and aldehyde group contents as bio-friendly polysaccharide cross-linking agents through graded precipitation. The structure and properties of different OAS samples, including molecular weight and aldehyde group content, were subsequently evaluated through GPC, atomic force microscopy (AFM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and other techniques. Research results showed that in the cross-linking of collagen fibers, the molecular weight of OSA was more critical than the aldehyde group content. The lower molecular weight of OSA helped it penetrate the collagen fiber structure, thereby improving the thermal stability and dispersion of collagen fibers.

Fig.1 Cross-linking and assessment of OSA.¹

FAQs

Q1: What sample should I provide for molecular size analysis?

A1: Alginate samples with higher purity are usually required. We will provide detailed sample preparation guidance according to sample properties and analysis requirements.

Q2: How is the accuracy of your molecular size analysis service guaranteed?

A2: We use advanced instruments and experienced technical teams for analysis to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the results, and follow strict quality control procedures.

Q3: What is included in the molecular size analysis results report?

A3: The report will include detailed information such as experimental methods, result data, molecular size distribution charts, etc., and provide you with suggestions for the results.

Customer Review

Reference

1. Ding, Wei, et al. "Preparation of oxidized sodium alginate with different molecular weights and its application for crosslinking collagen fiber." Carbohydrate Polymers 157 (2017): 1650-1656.

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