title: Preparation methods and applications behind alginate-based particles.
abstract: Alginate-based particles have emerged as one of the most extensively searched drug delivery platforms due to their inherent properties, including good biocompatibility and biodegradability. Moreover, the low price, easy availability, natural origin, versatility and sol-gel transition properties, make alginate an ideal candidate to produce particles with different applications. Several techniques have been developed and optimized to prepare microparticles and nanoparticles in order to achieve more rational, coherent, efficient and cost-effective procedures. Alginate represents a suitable choice concerning delivery systems' safety, and therefore alginate-based particles have shown to be useful in the field of drug delivery with a special focus on biological encapsulants. Area covered: This review will provide an overview of alginate-based delivery systems, covering the innovative preparation methods of the last decade, the advantages and disadvantages of the most used methods, their wide diversity of applications and safety concerns. Expert opinion: The progression of nanotechnology over the last decades has stimulated the refinement of former microencapsulation methods and the exploration of new approaches towards the submicron scale with increased attention being focused on the safety of nanoparticles and product performance. Therefore, the design and optimization of the preparation methods of alginate-based microparticles and nanoparticles as well as their nontoxicity, biocompatibility and biodegradability to reach the desired application have been widely explored.
authors: a University of Coimbra , Coimbra , Portugal.|b CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology , Coimbra , Portugal.
authors: Marlene
authors: M
authors: Lopes
authors: c Department of Pharmaceutics , Federal University of Rio de Janeiro , Rio de Janeiro , Brazil.
authors: Barbara
authors: B
authors: Abrahim
authors: a University of Coimbra , Coimbra , Portugal.|b CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology , Coimbra , Portugal.
authors: Francisco
authors: F
authors: Veiga
authors: d IBILI - Instituto de Imagem Biomédica e Ciências da Vida , Coimbra , Portugal.
authors: Raquel
authors: R
authors: Seiça
authors: c Department of Pharmaceutics , Federal University of Rio de Janeiro , Rio de Janeiro , Brazil.
authors: Lucio Mendes
authors: LM
authors: Cabral
authors: e Pharmacy, CHU Bichat Claude Bernard , Paris , France.
authors: Philippe
authors: P
authors: Arnaud
authors: f CESPU , Instituto de Investigação e Formação Avançada em Ciências e Tecnologias da Saúde and Instituto Universitário de Ciências da Saúde , Gandra , Portugal.
authors: José Carlos
authors: JC
authors: Andrade
authors: a University of Coimbra , Coimbra , Portugal.|g I3S - Instituto de Investigacão e Inovacão em Saúde , University of Porto , Porto , Portugal.|h IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular , Porto , Portugal.
authors: Antonio J
authors: AJ
authors: Ribeiro
mesh_terms: D000464:Alginates / Q000737:chemistry*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D020723:Glucuronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D006603:Hexuronic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D053758:Nanoparticles; D036103:Nanotechnology
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D020723:Glucuronic Acid
keywords: Biological encapsulant; drug delivery; hydrogel; nanoparticle safety; polysaccharide