What I was trying to say, was that not only does one want alginate, but the right KIND of alginate, with the right exact ratio of G to M monomer subunits, AND the right distribution of said subunits, it isn't the AMOUNT of G-monomer built into the alginate polymeric structure, or the M-monomer unit, but blocks thereof, and the length and proportion of one to the other.
Different algae/seaweeds produce alginates of different composition, and they do have notably different properties, high G-block frequency alginates being better suitable for ergot encapsulation, and are, if I remember properly, more mechanically resistant.
Chemical synthesis of such a complex polymer with such specific requirements for suitability for various different applications I think is a route to going nowhere, if one has a specific need, I.E biological encapsulation of microorganisms, then buying them is definately the most certain way to having any chance of getting the right one that will give optimal performance, failing that, finding or growing the right species of seaweed (although growing it might be tricky for all I know, and harvesting enough wild product to give enough for one to start a largescale production of microorganism, although I am of course thinking Claviceps purpurea or C.paspali myself, could be hard as hell, not sure how much alginate those seaweeds actually yield, and purifying it might just be a royal mother of a bitch to get right)
Of course if one were just aiming to use it for a gelling agent for cultures in petri dishes then food-grade alginate is cheap enough.
I am of the opinion that the ONLY way to MAKE specific alginates, given they have such tight requirements and high complexity, would be to clone the gene sets into yeasts, or bacteria, but there is a snag there, alginate is thick, viscous and gelatinous, that is quite likely to significantly interfere with oxygen transport and uptake in culture, once it starts getting secreted into the extracellular medium. How would you personally, like to breathe oxygen-impregnated motor oil?
Different algae/seaweeds produce alginates of different composition, and they do have notably different properties, high G-block frequency alginates being better suitable for ergot encapsulation, and are, if I remember properly, more mechanically resistant.
Chemical synthesis of such a complex polymer with such specific requirements for suitability for various different applications I think is a route to going nowhere, if one has a specific need, I.E biological encapsulation of microorganisms, then buying them is definately the most certain way to having any chance of getting the right one that will give optimal performance, failing that, finding or growing the right species of seaweed (although growing it might be tricky for all I know, and harvesting enough wild product to give enough for one to start a largescale production of microorganism, although I am of course thinking Claviceps purpurea or C.paspali myself, could be hard as hell, not sure how much alginate those seaweeds actually yield, and purifying it might just be a royal mother of a bitch to get right)
Of course if one were just aiming to use it for a gelling agent for cultures in petri dishes then food-grade alginate is cheap enough.
I am of the opinion that the ONLY way to MAKE specific alginates, given they have such tight requirements and high complexity, would be to clone the gene sets into yeasts, or bacteria, but there is a snag there, alginate is thick, viscous and gelatinous, that is quite likely to significantly interfere with oxygen transport and uptake in culture, once it starts getting secreted into the extracellular medium. How would you personally, like to breathe oxygen-impregnated motor oil?