A major setback of one of the most often used natural biopolymers,
alginate, as the delivery system for low molecular weight
phytochemicals is the rapid in vitro release of the entrapped substance.
Since aqueous solutions of alginate exhibit very high viscosities
even at low concentrations, a maximum concentration of
approximately 2–4% e.g. in the case of Ca-alginate can be used as
the matrix material for encapsulation purposes