Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGBThe renewable biopolymer alginate - also known as alginic acid - is mainly obtained from brown algae. It is water-soluble and forms a hydrogel with water.
It is particularly suitable for innovative active ingredient formulations, as it has already been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for drugs and medical devices. Especially advantageous for various applications in the environmental, pharmaceutical and food sectors is the high water absorption capacity and mucoadhesion of this material.