Sodium alginate from Sargassum sp. used as fruit preservation coating

Researchers from Hasanuddin University may have found a new use for the seaweed Sargassum. Alginate, a natural sugar found in some seaweeds, can be used as an ingredient to make edible packaging or better known as an edible film or edible coating. Edible coatings have been used to protect food products while maintaining the original appearance of the product.

The researchers focused on extracting sodium-alginate from Sargassum to use as an edible coating to preserve fruit, in this case, mango. The study used increasing concentrations of Na-alginate (0-50 ppm) solutions to bathe the mango in. They found that at 20 ppm the shelf-life at room temperature was tripled to 15 days compared to the control 0 ppm solution, which only lasted 5 days (see table below).

This could be a powerful use for the tons of Sargassum washing up in various parts of the world, and aid in future food security by eliminating produce waste.

The study was published in Indonesia Chimica Acta and can be read here

Flexible Conductors from Brown Algae for Green Electronics

Researchers recently published about novel conductors in Advanced Sustainable Systems. What makes these conductors so novel is they are made from brown algae or kelps.

Alginate from brown seaweeds are are used to make a flexible sodium alginate film. Ultrathin gold layers are then added to the alginate film. The resulting foils are thin, easy to handle, and shape, while showing good conductive properties.

The researchers believe this novel use of sodium alginate conductors is a “very promising candidate to be employed in green electronics, thanks to the reduced energy consumption required for their fabrication, the absence of toxic components or chemicals that are derived from oil, and the possibility to disassemble the devices at the end of their life in environmentally friendly conditions.”

The research can be viewed here

Novel use of alginate from brown seaweeds transports macrophages into damaged tissues

Professor Metin Avkiran, Associate Medical Director at the British Heart Foundation has been working on ways to treat critical limb ischemia (CLI). CLI is a severe obstruction of the arteries which markedly reduces blood flow to the extremities (hands, feet, and legs) and has progressed to the point of severe pain and even skin ulcers or sores.

To date, clinical trials of cell therapy to date have only shown a modest benefit with disappointing results attributed to the lack of potency of cells injected.

Dr. Avkiran has developed a new macrophage transport capsule using alginate from brown seaweeds. The research found that these macrophages successfully remained in the injured area, new blood vessels formed, and as a result, more blood reached the damaged area.

These studies were preformed in mice models and are expected to move to human trials soon.

Read the full article here from the Tech Explorist

Sodium alginate and human stem cells used to 3D-print tissues

Researchers at Penn State University found sodium alginate from seaweed can be used to “print” human tissues. Alginate mixed with human stem cells can be 3D-printed into tiny particles that create breathable tissues.

Currently the technology is limited to small strands, however, the researchers are confidant they will be able to create larger tissue patches in the future. The researchers believe these tissues could be used for bone and cartilage surgery , such as knee restoration, cartilage defects, and osteoarthritis.

Read the article here

Seaweed smart material stronger than steel

Researchers at Brown University discovered a way to make a new smart material mixing alginate with graphene oxide. The new material can be 3D printed and is stronger than steel. Read more about this new amazing material here.