Alginate is also a biodegradable po

Alginate is also a biodegradable polymer; the backbone can be degraded via hydrolysis of the glycosidic bonds [7] or an alginate gel can dissolve due to the elution of the cross-linking calcium cation [6]. Molecular weight has been shown to affect alginate polymer chain degradation [8] and the elution of the crosslinking calcium can also lead to dissolution of gel [9]. This paper considers both high M and high G calcium crosslinked alginate gel beads as devices for use in embolisation.