title: Alginate fibres and wound dressings.
abstract: Alginates are characterized by their gel-forming and absorbent nature, a feature that makes them ideally suited for use in wound-care applications. This article examines the structure, properties, and performance of alginates and highlights the differences between the various types. The characteristics that should be built into the next generation of dressings are discussed, together with applications that are ripe for development.
authors.affiliation: Innovative Technologies Ltd., Winsford, UK.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Gilding
mesh_terms: D000464:Alginates / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020723:Glucuronic Acid; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D006801:Humans; D009779:Occlusive Dressings; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology