Abstract
Alginates are an algal-derived biopolymer with varied applications in the food industry, and pharmaceutical and biomedical fields. The quality and properties of the alginate are tremendously dependent on the species of algae, region of cultivation and the extraction method used. Various alginate derivatives have been developed with distinct physical and chemical properties, depending on the derivatization process. The alginate derivatives are utilized widely in designing drug delivery systems and biomedical applications. The biocompatible and cytocompatible alginate and its derivatives make it suitable for delivering drugs through oral, nasal and mucosal drug delivery systems. The flexibility and versatility of the alginate favors its use for targeted drug delivery. The tailored alginate derivatives have been utilized for protein and gene delivery. The chapter discusses various aspects of alginate, its derivatives and its application in drug delivery.
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