Alginate rafts and their characterisation.

Alginate/antacid anti-reflux preparations are designed to provide symptom relief by forming a physical barrier on top of the stomach contents in the form of a neutral floating gel or raft. This study tested the in vitro effectiveness of a range of liquid products in forming rafts that were cohesive, buoyant, voluminous, resistant to reflux and durable under conditions of movement (resilient). The products tested had a wide range of acid neutralising capacities (ANCs). It was found that products with a high ANC and no calcium ion source formed rafts of low strength, weight and volume, which appeared more as floating precipitates than coherent gels. Products with a high ANC and a calcium ion source formed medium strength, weight and volume rafts. Products with a low ANC formed strong coherent rafts with medium to large weight and volume, and those with low ANC and a calcium ion source formed the strongest rafts. Products with stronger rafts were found to be more resilient and more resistant to reflux in an in vitro reflux model. Significant overall differences in raft buoyancy were found between products forming coherent rafts but these could not be related to the product formulation or amount of available carbon dioxide.