**2. Properties of alginates**

Brown algae obtained from seaweeds such as *Laminaria hyperborea*, *Laminaria digitata*, *Laminaria japonica*, *Ascophyllum nodosum*, and *Macrocystis pyrifera* are used to make commercially available alginates [10]. In general, alginates are insoluble compounds; they are washed, crushed, dried, powdered, and treated with a basic solution especially NaOH or KOH to form sodium/potassium salt of alginic acid which is water-soluble (**Figure 2**).

Alginates are generally available in the market as Alginic acid of sodium salt or Sodium alginate [12]. Alginates due to their acidic nature make them a favorable biopolymeric biodegradable product in biomedical applications. Because of high acid content, alginates form gels due to the presence of Guluronic acid (G) monomer in alginates within a short period especially in the presence of Ca2+ ions. This property of gelling allows the alginate to possess multiple applications such as encapsulation of varied fragments or even cells interior of the alginate matrix with very low side effects [13]. The carboxylic group in alginates are very effective i.e. reason find many applications and can be modified based on the need [14].

Bacteria such as Pseudomonas and Azotobacter can develop bacterial alginate as an exopolysaccharide. These bacterial alginate producers may be able to produce alginates with particular monomer formulations and might be capable of producing 'tailor made' bacterial alginates using genetic and protein engineering [15].
