Molecular Playground/Alginate: Difference between revisions

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David Griffin, Joe White

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 One of the [[CBI Molecules]] being studied in the  [http://www.umass.edu/cbi/ University of Massachusetts Amherst Chemistry-Biology Interface Program] at UMass Amherst and on display at the [http://www.molecularplayground.org/ Molecular Playground].
-Alginate is a linear, organic polymer isolated from bacteria and algae. It has been shown to be biocompatible (non-toxic to human cells) and has thus found numerous applications as a biomaterial for cellular engineering. Owing to its unique physical properties, alginate hydrogels have been used as a scaffold material for building artificial organs, as a dressing for ulcerous wounds and as a vector for the targeted delivery of anti-cancer drugs.
+Alginate is a linear, organic polymer isolated from bacteria and algae. It has been shown to be biocompatible (non-toxic to human cells) and has thus found numerous applications as a thickener in food processing and biomaterial for tissue engineering. Owing to its unique physical properties, alginate hydrogels have been used as a scaffold material for building artificial organs, as a dressing for ulcerous wounds and as a vector for the targeted delivery of anti-cancer drugs.
 <applet size='[450,338]' frame='true' align='right'
 caption='Sodium Alginate (24,000 Da)' scene='User:David_Griffin/Sandbox_1/Alginate_24000da/1'/>
-Alginate is composed of a random sequence of mannuronic acid (M) and guluronic acid (G).  Exposure to divalent cations (e.g. calcium, magnesium, etc.) chemically cross-links alginate solutions forming a gel.  Alginate can vary widely in length, monomeric sequence and G/M ratio depending on the source.  The ratio of G/M in the chain influences the strength of alginate hydrogels and can be tuned by combining alginate obtained from different organisms. The rotating molecule to the right is an example of a short chain of sodium alginate.
+Alginate is composed of a random sequence of mannuronic acid (M) and guluronic acid (G).  Exposure to divalent cations (e.g. calcium, barium, etc.) chemically cross-links alginate solutions forming a gel.  Alginate can vary widely in length, monomeric sequence and G/M ratio depending on the source.  The ratio of G/M in the chain influences the strength of alginate hydrogels and can be tuned by combining alginate obtained from different organisms. The rotating molecule to the right is an example of a short chain of sodium alginate.
 Molecular Playground banner: A short, linear chain of sodium alginate.