Calcium alginate dressings--I. Physico-chemical characterization and effect of sterilization.

In order to analyze the alginate components of alginate dressings and the fractions which are released when the dressing is in contact with model biological fluids, the use of various analytical methods was considered. The first step was the conversion of a calcium alginate batch to pure sodium alginate. The recovery of the latter from either insoluble or soluble mixed sodium/calcium alginates was performed by complexation of calcium ions with sodium citrate followed by ultrafiltration. Comparisons were made between sugar analysis, 1H NMR and circular dichroism (CD) data to determinate the contents in guluronic and mannuronic acids of sodium alginate chains. It was shown that CD measurements afford a rapid and nondestructive method for determination of %G when one takes the ratio theta200/theta220 into account. Fractionation of crude alginate (generally ranging from 30 to 70% G) was achieved by the triangle dissolution/precipitation method in order to increase the range of alginate in sugar composition. The various validated procedures were applied to investigate the effects of irradiation sterilization on alginate dressings. It was shown that sugar composition is retained whereas molecular weight decreased dramatically due to chain scission.