The composition and sequential structure of alginate determines the functionality of alginate in an application. For instance, the gelling properties of an alginate are highly dependent upon the monomer composition and sequential structure of the polymer. Gel strength will depend upon the guluronic acid content (FG) and also the average number of consecutive guluronate moieties in G-block structures (NG>1).
Chemical composition and sequential structure of alginate can be determined by 1H- and 13C-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). A general description of NMR can be found in <761> of the USP24-NF19. The NMR methodology and assignments are based on data published by Grasdalen et al. (1979, 1981, 1983). , , The NMR technique has made it possible to determine the monad frequencies FM (fraction of mannuronate units) and FG (fraction of guluronate units), the four nearest neighboring (diad) frequencies FGG, FMG, FGM, FMM, and the eight next nearest neighboring (triad) frequencies FGGG, FGGM, FMGG, FMGM, FMMM, FMMG, FGMM, FGMG. Knowledge of these frequencies enables number averages of block lengths to be calculated. NG is the number average length of G-blocks, and NG>1 is the number average length of G-blocks from which singlets (-MGM-) have been excluded. Similarly, NM is the number average length of M-blocks, and NM>1 is the number average length of M-blocks from which singlets (-GMG-) have been excluded. 13C NMR must be used to determine the M-centered triads and NM>1. This test method describes only the 1H NMR analysis of alginate. Alginate can be well characterized by determining FG and NG>1.
In order to obtain well-resolved NMR spectra, it is necessary to reduce the viscosity and increase the mobility of the molecules by depolymerization of alginate to a degree of polymerization of about 20 to 50. Acid hydrolysis is used to depolymerize the alginate samples. Freeze-drying, followed by dissolution in 99 % D2O, and another freeze-drying before dissolution in 99.9 % D2O yields samples with low 1H2O content. TTHA is used as a chelator to prevent traces of divalent cations to interact with alginate. While TTHA is a more effective chelator, other agents such as EDTA and citrate may be used. Such interactions may lead to line broadening and selective loss of signal intensity.
Samples are analyzed at a temperature of 80 ± 1°C. Elevated sample temperature contributes to reducing sample viscosity and repositions the proton signal of residual water to an area outside that of interest.
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the composition and monomer sequence of alginate intended for use in biomedical and pharmaceutical applications as well as in Tissue Engineered Medical Products (TEMPs) by high-resolution proton NMR (1H NMR). A guide for the characterization of alginate has been published as Guide F2064.
1.2 Alginate, a linear polymer composed of β-D-mannuronate (M) and its C-5 epimer α-L-guluronate (G) linked by β-(1
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