**1. Introduction**

In the last decade, a lot of research has been experienced to discover naturally derived products with unique attributes and a high degree of application compatibility. The most all-purpose and influential derivatives are seaweed-and-bacterial polysaccharides, utilized in the food, pharmaceutical, and agricultural industries. These compounds have been approved in most countries of the world due to their rheological properties, suitable compatibility, and biodegradability. Seaweed-andbacterial polysaccharides have lower calories due to their fiber-like state. They are usually used as a supplement to stabilize and adjust food consistency, such as cooked foods, jelly, mayonnaise, etc. Also, algal and bacterial polysaccharides do not have a damaging effect on the health of the human body due to their lack of toxicity and proper compatibility, therefore; they are used in the medical and pharmaceutical

fields. Being biodegradable and compatible with the environment of Seaweed-andbacterial polysaccharides has made them usable in different fields of agriculture [1, 2].

Alginate is a polysaccharide produced by marine algae, such as "*Macrocystis pyrifera*," "*Ascophyllum nodosum*," and "*Sargassum sinicola*" (*Fucophyceae*, formerly *Phaeophyceae*), mainly "*Laminaria*" (*L. hyperborea, L. digitate, L. japonica*), and other species like "*Ascophyllum nodossum*" and "*Macropyriafery*," and bacteria, such as "*Pseudomonas aeruginosa*" and "*Azotobacter* sp.", and because of its remarkable properties, it has been used in different sectors [3].

Alginate is the main polysaccharide in the cell wall and intercellular area of seaweed (in the case of bacteria and exopolysaccharide (EPS), which is secreted by bacteria into the surrounding environment and is made of α-L-Glucuronic (G) and β-1.4-D-Manoronic (M) acids. The ratio of these constituent units determines the physical characteristics of Alginates. For example, alginates with a high percentage of M blocks have a higher viscosity, and those with a high proportion of G blocks have a higher property to make a gel. Alginate is a mixture of calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium salts in the cell wall of seaweed and bacteria (**Figure 1**). The Alginate extraction process is a multi-step procedure based on converting the insoluble mixture of Alginic acid salts into a soluble salt (Alginate) [4].

Alginates are a group of compounds considered safe by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It was first used as an additive in the food industry; then, it was used in other parts, such as medicine, agriculture, and industry. Alginate can be transmuted into semi-solid or solid structures, such as sol or gel and used as stabilizers, emulsifiers, and carriers in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Specifications, such as cheapness, ease, safety, and compatibility have enabled the use of alginate for various industrial usages, exceptionally in the food industry. Coatings and films of Alginate are used in many packaged food products, such as drinks, milk powder, and instant teas. It is also used as a drug delivery system in the medical and pharmaceutical industry for products like vitamins and cold and dizziness drugs [5, 6].

**Figure 1.**

*(a) Adding compounds such as sodium to the building block, and (b) the arrangement and composition of the monomer has an effect on the property and application of alginate.*

### *Applications of Alginate in the Fields of Research Medicine, Industry and Agriculture DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.110209*

The usage of alginate is growing in biotechnology products and has expanded in the medical and pharmaceutical fields. Biocompatibility, degradability, the property of becoming porous hydrogel and high absorption properties of Alginate can lead to its use in different medical applications, such as wound healing, drug delivery, and control of obesity and diabetes. Among other benefits and applications of Alginate, it is used in different parts of agriculture, such as encapsulation to trap plant growth stimulants small bacteria, slow release of microorganisms enclosed in soil, and some enriched protein substances. For these applications, Alginate systems were created, such as liposomes, hydrogels, nanoparticles, capsules, etc. These compounds have better degradability, compatibility, and non-toxic properties, and as a result, their effectiveness will be greater The purpose of continuing this chapter of the book, according to the characteristics of alginate such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, bioadhesion and also limitations, its applications in medical, industrial and agricultural research areas have been discussed [7–9].
