Glowing Innovations: How Fluorescent Biopolymers Are Lighting Up Science
Nature has long produced its own glowing materials, from fireflies to glowing mushrooms. Today, scientists are taking inspiration from these biological wonders to engineer a new generation of smart materials that combine sustainable origins with cutting-edge functionality. These fluorescent biopolymers – natural or engineered polymers with light-emitting properties – are opening doors to applications ranging from…
matexcelSodium Alginate: A Versatile Biopolymer with Expanding Applications and Research Frontiers
Introduction to Sodium Alginate: A Natural Polymer with Unique Properties Sodium alginate is a linear, anionic polysaccharide extracted from the cell walls of brown seaweed, primarily species such as Laminaria hyperborea, Macrocystis pyrifera, and Ascophyllum nodosum. Chemically, it consists of two uronic acid monomers: β-D-mannuronic acid (M) and α-L-guluronic acid (G), arranged in varying block…