title: Synthesis and characterization of both ionically and enzymatically cross-linkable alginate.
abstract: Alginate with phenol moieties in the polymer side chains was synthesized through the conjugation reaction of alginate and tyramine. Immersing an aqueous solution of the alginate containing horseradish peroxidase into a solution containing H(2)O(2) caused the solution to gel via peroxidase-catalyzed oxidative coupling of the phenols. In addition, alginate prepared under appropriate reaction conditions retained the attractive properties associated with unmodified alginate; spherical gel beads were formed by dropping an aqueous alginate solution (1.0wt.%) into a solution containing calcium ions. The oxidative coupling of the phenols was effective for suppressing the destabilization of the alginate gel resulting from a loss of bonding between the divalent cations and alginate. The mechanical properties of the resultant gels were influenced by the preparation conditions of the alginate and the type of cross-linking.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan. sakai@chem-eng.kyushu-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.forename: Koei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kawakami
mesh_terms: D000464:Alginates / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D002021:Buffers; D002118:Calcium / Q000737:chemistry; D002236:Carbohydrate Conformation; D002384:Catalysis; D002413:Cations, Divalent / Q000737:chemistry*; D002951:Citrates / Q000737:chemistry; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000737:chemistry*; D005782:Gels / Q000737:chemistry; D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase / Q000737:chemistry*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007552:Isotonic Solutions / Q000737:chemistry; D008863:Microspheres; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010636:Phenols / Q000737:chemistry; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D002021:Buffers; D002413:Cations, Divalent; D002951:Citrates; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D005782:Gels; D007552:Isotonic Solutions; C051865:Krebs-Ringer solution; D010636:Phenols; D014867:Water; D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase; D002118:Calcium