User:David Griffin/Sandbox 1
From Proteopedia
One of the CBI Molecules being studied in the University of Massachusetts Amherst Chemistry-Biology Interface Program at UMass Amherst and on display at the Molecular Playground.
Alginate is a linear, organic polymer isolated from certain bacteria and algae. It has been shown to be biocompatible (non-toxic to human cells) and has found numerous applications as a biomaterial for cellular engineering.
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. The ratio of G/M in the alginate chain influences the strength of the gel and can be tuned by combining alginate obtained from different sources.
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Owing to its unique physical properties, alginate hydrogels have been used for a number of biomaterial applications. Alginate has been used as a scaffold material for building artificial organs, as a dressing for ulcerous wounds and the targeted delivery of anti-cancer drugs.
The spinning molecule to the right is an example of a short chain of sodium alginate. Alginate can vary widely in length, monomeric sequence and G/M ratio depending on the source.
