the method presents a major limitation consisting
in loss during bead preparation. Active compound losses are
favor by both, the time necessary for the cation to diffuse into
the bead and the compound concentration gradient between the
beads and surrounding solution. Besides, the presence of macropores
in the alginate matrix facilitates the diffusion of hydrophilic
molecules (George & Abraham, 2006; Gouin, 2004). However, some
researchers were able to solve this problem by mixing alginate
with other polymers such as starch, chitosan, cellulose, pectin,
among others. In some cases, mechanical and physical properties of