GB2357765A

GB2357765A - Water-insoluble alginate sponge material

Info

Publication number: GB2357765A
Application number: GB9924266A
Authority: GB
Inventors: George H Scherr
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-04-29
Filing date: 1999-10-13
Publication date: 2001-07-04
Anticipated expiration: 2019-10-13
Also published as: GB9924266D0; GB2357765B

Abstract

The specification discloses an alginate foam composition dressing which may be prepared with or without a backing. The foam dressing exhibits unique capability in including soluble or insoluble medicaments as part of the alginate foam composition, attributes not inherent in alginate dressings prepared by spinning. The dressings so prepared also eliminate the need for adhesives and secondary dressings for retaining an alginate dressing on a wound site. The foam is formed by addition of a di- or trivalent metal cation to a solution of water-soluble alginate, followed by addition of a gaseous foam-forming or effervescent compound and an acid, then drying the foam.

Description

2357765 ALGINATE FOAM COMPOSITIONS U.S. Patent Number 5,718,916 issued to

Scherr describes in some detail the background of the use of alginates as well as their application in medical and veterinary medicine; said outline of the background data for the use of alginates as set forth in U.S.

Patent Number 5,718,916 in columns 1, 2, and column 3 to line 33, are incorporated herein by reference. 10 The U.S. Patent Number 5,718,916 more specifically deals with the preparation of a spongelike or foam alginate composition which requires lyophilization or freeze drying in order to remove the aqueous component of the composition and so results in 15 a foam product which has certain advantages over fiber-related alginates which are produced by a spinning process. An advantage of the invention described herein relates to the preparation of foam alginate 20 compositions in which the aqueous portion of the composition can be removed by air-drying or regulated heat drying without the necessity of utilizing an expensive freeze-drying apparatus so significantly reducing the cost of the final product as well as the 25 reduction in time of its preparation. In the U.S. Patent 5,718,916 for the preparation of alginate foam products, note that the examples 2 cited and many of the claims made, utilize a sequestering agent such as sodium citrate in order to delay the immediate precipitation of calcium alginate when calcium salts are added to a solution of sodium alginate. Since the sequestering agent does not permit too long an extended period of time prior to the alginate being precipitated as the calcium salt, the examples cited in U.S. Patent 5,718,916 clearly indicate that the composition has to be added to a dish or tray immediately after mixing prior to its being frozen and lyophilized.

It is thus another salient advantage of the invention described herein, that no sequestering agent is required and that the calcium alginate so formed permits a semi-solid gel to be poured into any receptacle even hours after it is formed without the restraints of having to immediately place it into a dish prior to its being dried by a suitable method.

The lack of a restraint of the element of time in preparing the calcium foam alginate composition as described herein makes feasible the adjustment of viscosity of the composition without the necessity to work quickly and freeze the mixture as is made necessary in U.S. Patent No. 5,718,916, prior to its being dried and prepared for use in medical or veterinary applications. Where it might be necessary to effect an adjustment of pH in the alginate foam 3 composition, the operator can also make such adjustments over the period of time necessary without the restraint of time that is inherent in the U.S.

Patent Number 5,718,916.

It is generally known in the profession that sodium alginate in aqueous solution is highly sensitive to precipitation by calcium ions and that even as low a concentration of 1 to 100,000 of sodium alginate in aqueous solution, can result in precipitation of calcium alginate in the presence of such solutions as calcium chloride. Since the calcium alginate foam composition prepared herein is highly viscous and would result in a viscosity that may be difficult to layer in a homogenous thin layer on a plate to permit its drying, it was discovered that the addition of ammonia in aqueous solution or ammonium salts would reduce the viscosity of the calcium alginate foam composition and significantly improve the ease with which the layering of the calcium alginate foam composition may be layered. Since, during the drying process, free ammonia is liberated from such a composition which has included the use of a solution of ammonia, the ammonia being liberated will then result in enhanced viscosity and concomitantly increase strengthening of the foam composition thus prepared by the removal of ammonia during the drying process.

4 The use of various dressings frequently require that they be very soft and amenable to being draped around fingers, arms, or legs where injury has occurred. Consequently, it is a desirable attribute of such dressings to be highly flexible and amenable to being easily draped without their surface being distorted by the stress of such draping. It has been discovered that the addition of a compound such as sodium tetraborate (borax) results in the calcium alginate foam composition which is highly flexible, has an increased elasticity, and can be readily draped around small circumferences such as a finger without distortion or breakage of the alginate dressing so formed.

1-5 Another salient advantage of the invention described herein concerns the feasibility of adding ingredients to the alginate composition, which ingredients may contain properties such as being particulate, having high viscosity, or having or resulting in a rheology which is undesirable in making it feasible for such compositions to be forced through a fine spinneret to produce the alginate fibers as currently practiced in the profession.

The use of desirable particulate matter such as microparticles that can act as time-release particles, aqueous insoluble medicaments, or even the use of intact cells such as yeast cells, blood cells, or human or animal tissue cells, that might be desirable to apply to an open wound may be introduced into the alginate foam composition described herein. As is well known in the profession the pH of the alginate composition may have to be adjusted to be commensurate with the cells that are to be incorporated in the final composition, and such pH adjustment is readily made by those skilled in the art. Such particulate matter and/or aqueous insoluble matter which can be incorporated into the alginate foam composition described in our patent is an attribute not feasible when calcium alginate fibers are prepared by a spinning process.

U. S. Patent Numbers 4, 778,679 and 5,177,065 deal with the treatment of wounds utilizing a starch hydrolyzate (a maltodextrin). Example 1 in U.S.

Patent Number 4,778,679 utilizes a starch hydrolyzate powder blended with approximately 5% ascorbic acid which is merely sprinkled as a powder onto an open wound or ulcer site which then must be covered with a dressing. Example 3 in U.S. Patent Number 4,778,679 also describes the use of such a maltodextrin, to which has been added sodium ascorbate, but again it is applied by sprinkling the powder onto an open wound or lesion. Example 6 in U.S. Patent Number 4,778,679 sprinkles a starch hydrolyzate to which has been added 5% ascorbic acid and a solution of multiple amino 6 acids. U.S. Patent Number 5,177,065 teaches the use of a starch hydrolyzate (maltodextrin) powder which is applied to an open wound and which ultimately hardens to form a hardened surface in and on the wound or lesion. In the same patent, (5,177,065) the authors find a need to increase the adherence of the starch

Claims

hydrolyzate powder composition (Claim 2) by adding other products to it,

which might assist it in forming an adhesion to the wound in the form of a film, such as the use of various film forming agents.

A typical application of the teachings of U.S.

Patent Numbers 4,778,679 and 5,177,065 can be gleaned from the use of a maltodextrin wound dressing called Multidex,R which is manufactured by DeRoyal Industries, Inc. Said Multidex product is provided for the treatment of wounds in the form of a powder which is sprinkled on the wound and which then requires an appropriate dressing to hold the powder in place. DeRoyal Industries, Inc. also supplies maltodextrin wound dressing in the form of a gel which is squeezed from a foil packet onto a wound, but still requires a secondary dressing (the DeRoyal literature describing the Multidex Maltodextrin brand wound dressings are contained in their clinical reprint #0 825).

Neither U.S. Patent Numbers 5,177,065 and 4,778,679, nor anyone in the profession has succeeded 7 in preparing a dressing which in and of itself will contain the starch hydrolyzate (maltodextrin) compositions described in the patents 5,177, 065 and 4,778,679 and in the commercial products of DeRoyal which can be packaged, sterilized, stored, and used directly on a wound at any appropriate time that is desired without the need to use amultiplicity of products and the awkward use of powders and ointments, which then require an additional dressing as described in the above literature. The alginate foam composition described herein serve as a unique matrix for the maltodextrin component.

Having set forth the tenets of the invention contained herein, the following non-limiting examples illustrate various compositions that are inherent in our invention.

EXAMPLE 1 Place 4000 ml of deionized water into a plastic container and, with stirring, slowly add 100 grams of Kelco HV brand of sodium alginate. The stirring should be sufficiently vigorous to form a vortex in the water so that the sodium alginate added to the water is directed into the middle of the vortex to ensure a very efficient dispersion of the alginate particles and so increase the rate of solution. The mixture is stirred until all of the sodium alginate has been dissolved.

8 To 1125 ml of the 2.5% sodium alginate solution prepared as above, add the following ingredients: 15 grams of sodium bicarbonate (Na HC03), 75 ml of glycerin, ml of the surface active agent L64, (Wyandotte Corp.) 6.9 ml of the surface active agent Tween 80 After stirring vigorously for approximately ten minutes to ensure that all of the ingredients have been dispersed, add 100 ml of deionized water containing 45 grams of sodium tetraborate (Na2B407 10H20). After stirring for a few minutes to ensure that the borate solution has been thoroughly dispersed, add 33 ml of ammonium hydroxide (28% NH3) and 15 grams of polyethylene glycol (average MN CA 1000).

While continuously stirring, slowly add 9 grams of calcium sulfate (CaS04. 2H.0) into the vortex of the alginate solution and then follow with 35 ml of a dilute solution of acetic acid prepared by diluting one part of glacial acetic acid with 2 parts of deionized water.

The diluted acetic acid should be added very slowly with a pipette, again into the vortex of the stirred mixture, and vigorous stirring continued for approximately five minutes.

Following the addition of the acetic acid, the composition will gradually become more viscous. One 9 should now add 1800 ml of deionized water.

The alginate composition thus prepared will contain a considerable amount of foam, which foam will not rise to the surface of the alginate composition, because the viscosity of the final alginate composition is greater than the buoyancy of the foam. When poured onto a plate, such as one made of plastic or metal, the dish may be air-dried or placed into a drying oven on the following schedule of drying:

703 C - 2 hours 603 C - 2 hours 403 C until dry Alternately, the alginate composition prepared as above can be poured onto a backing composed of a cotton-rayon mixture or a polyester non-woven backing, so that an amount of the alginate foam mixture penetrates into the fiber and thus when dry, will retain this backing as part of the dried finished dressing.

The U.S. Patent Number 5,674,524 expressed novelty in that prior to said U.S. Patent, the manufacturers of alginate fiber dressings were obliged to recommend that, once the alginate fiber dressing is placed on a wound, then a secondary sterile dressing would have to be affixed on top of the alginate dressing prior to its being affixed in place with adhesive tapes. The U.S. Patent 5,674,524 resolved the laborious and expensive procedure for alginate dressings to require two separate sterile dressings to be affixed over a wound. This was resolved by utilization of needle punching of the alginate fiber dressing to a backing following the carding operation. It is a unique attribute of the patent described herein, that even needle punching is unnecessary to have the foam alginate composition affixed to a suitable backing of an alginate dressing.

It is thus another salient advantage of the patent described herein that the dried alginate foam composition, when ready to be cut into appropriate sized dressings, packaged, and sterilized ready for use, already has a backing affixed to the alginate foam composition and does not require any additional secondary sterile backing after the alginate composition is placed on an open wound.

EXAMPLE 2 Add 1200 ml of the 2.5% sodium alginate HV brand as prepared above in Example 1 to a 4 liter beaker and with vigorous stirring add the following ingredients in the following order.

ml of ammonium hydroxide, 12 ml of Tween 80, 12 ml of L64, grams of sodium bicarbonate, grams of ammonium alginate (SuperloidR brand of 11 Kelco Co.

Add 700 ml of deionized or distilled water and when all of the ingredients have been thoroughly mixed, add 15 grams of sodium tetraborate dissolved in 150 ml of water. With continuous stirring, now slowly add 5 grams of calcium sulfate, 110 ml of glycerin, and stir for approximately ten minutes. Add 30 ml of dilute acetic acid, the addition of which and the preparation of which are as described in Example 1 above and then the composition may be layered onto a surface or onto a suitable backing, and dried, as described in Example 1 above.

EXAMPLE 3 The zinc salt of bacitracin, having a concentration of 67 IWmg, is added in an amount of 230 mg to 10 ml of deionized water. Neomycin sulphate powder assaying as 704 mcg neomycin/mg of antibiotic is added to 10 ml of deionized water in an amount of 135 mg. Polymyxin B sulphate containing 8547 units of polymyxin B/mg of powder is added to 10 ml of deionized water in an amount of 22.6 mg. The three separate solutions are stirred until all of the antibiotics have been dissolved. Antibiotic solutions thus prepared are added to 1200 ml of the 2.5% solution of sodium alginate Kelco brand HV and with continuous and vigorous stirring, the rest of the ingredients as set forth in Example 1 and in the 12 concentrations utilized in Example 1 are added to the alginate-antibiotic composition which may then be may be spread and dried as described in Example 1 above.

EXAMPLE 4 To 1200 ml of a 2.5% sodium alginate preparation prepared as in Example 1 above, add the following ingredients in the following order:

grams of sodium bicarbonate ml of glycerin 6.9 ml of the surface active agent L64 6.9m1 of the surface active agent Tween 80 After stirring vigorously for approximately 10 minutes to ensure that all of the ingredients have been dispersed, add 150 mI of deionized water containing 50 grams of sodium tetraborate. After stirring for a few minutes to ensure that the borate solution has been thoroughly dispersed, add 60 ml of ammonium hydroxide and 75 ml of glycerin.

While continuously stirring, slowly add 1 gram of calcium sulfate into the vortex of the solution and then follow with 20 ml of a dilute solution of acetic acid prepared by diluting one part of glacial acetic acid with 2 parts of deionized water.

The diluted acetic acid should be added very slowly with a pipette, again into the vortex of the stirred mixture, and vigorous stirring continued for approximately five minutes.

13 Following the addition of the acetic acid, the composition will gradually become more viscous, one should continue to add 1000 ml of deionized water. With stirring continued, add 1 gram of a highly -5 hydrophilic preparation called "Drimop"R as manufactured by Multisorb Technologies.

The "Drimop" preparation is highly hydrophilic and therefore, a n amount of water would be retained by this product, even after drying in accord with the process set forth in Example 1.

The unique value of adding a small amount of this highly hydrophilic preparation results in the retention of bound water to the "Drimop" which results in a dressing having an amount of moisture which retains a -cool' touch when the dressing is applied to an open wound. The "Drimop", being highly hydrophilic, also enhances the moisture-absorbing capacity of the dressing when it is applied to an open and/or exudating wound.

The alginate composition thus prepared may be spread on a flat surface and/or onto a suitable backing as described in Example 1 above and air- or oven-dried, again as described in Example 1.

EXAMPLE 5 An alginate foam composition is prepared as described in Example 1 above. The alginate may then be sterilized in a suitable container by ionizing or 14 other suitable sterilizing radiation.

Using established aseptic techniques, a cell suspension is prepared from a culture of human, animal, or microbial cells and are aseptically 5 harvested in a suitable buffered medium.

The cells thus suspended in a medium are then added aseptically to the sterile alginate foam slurry, as prepared above, with slow mixing.

The cell containing alginate foam slurry can then aseptically be layered onto a sterile sheet so that when dried, may be cut into appropriate sizes as required.

EXAMPLE 6 A 600 ml quantity of 2.5% sodium alginate as prepared above in Example 1 is added to a 4 liter container, and to the alginate is added the following ingredients in the following order:

ml of glycerin ml of deionized water 6 ml of Tween 80 6 ml of L64 surface active agent 8 grams of sodium bicarbonate 7.5 grams of ammonium alginate (as sold under the trade name of SuperloidR manufactured by Kelco Corporation) With continued and vigorous stirring, add 1.0 grams of calcium sulphate, and 50 grams of maltodextrin with a dextrose equivalent of 13.0 to 17.0 as prepared by Aldrich Chemical Company, Inc.

The ingredients are stirred vigorously with a stirrer until the composition becomes viscous and to this composition is added 20 ml of ammonium hydroxide and 150 ml of deionized water.

Dilute acetic acid prepared as described above in Example 1, is slowly added with a pipette to a total amount of 11.0 ml. The dilute acetic acid will react with the sodium bicarbonate and form a foam which remains intact in the semi-solid composition which can be continuously stirred until it is ready to pour onto the surface of a plate where it can be dried at room temperature or in an oven as described in Example 1.

Alternatively, the composition can be layered onto a gauze, cotton, or polyester backing where, when dry, it will adhere to and become affixed to the fibers of the backing. The dried finished dressing can be cut, packaged into suitable packages as is well known in the profession and sterilized and stored in hospital settings to be used when required.

The alginate component in contact with an open wound will gradually become hydrocolloidal and permit the continuous diffusion of the maltodextrin to the site of the wound and will retain all of the clinical advantages that are delineated in U.S. Patent Numbers 5,177,065 and 4,778,679 as well as in the literature 16 of DeRoyal for its Multidex brand of maltodextrin wound dressing.

EXAMPLE 7 The ingredients that are described in Example 6 above are prepared in the same way and to the semisolid composition is added 0.5 grams of ascorbic acid, to provide the beneficial effect of ascorbic acid as it is described in the U.S. Patents 5,177,065 and 4,778, 679 and in the literature of DeRoyal for its Multidex brand of maltodextrin wound dressing.

EXAMPLE 8 The alginate composition as described in Example 1, is prepared with stirring and to this alginate composition is added a dispersion of 10.0 ml of bovine collagen.

This composition can now be dried and layered with or without a backing as described in Example 1.

The above descriptions and examples illustrate particular constructions including the preferred embodiments of the solutions. However, the invention is not limited to the precise constructions described herein, but, rather, all modifications and improvements thereof encompassed within the scope of the invention.

The sodium alginate principally utilized in the examples described herein was one having an aqueous viscosity of 753 cP at 1.25% concentration. It is 17 clear that other sodium alginates having other viscosities may be utilized without deviating from the novelty of the revelations contained in this patent as long as the alginate is of a concentration and viscosity that can be reasonably poured into a mold when a calcium or other anion alginate precipitating molecule is added to the sodium alginate.

Although the alginate used in the examples described herein was sodium alginate, it is clear that other water soluble alginates may be utilized without deviating from the novelty of the invention described herein such as water soluble ammonium alginate, magnesium alginate, or potassium alginate.

It is well known in the profession that various glycols will act as plasticizers and may be used to improve the flexibility of alginate films or fibers. The plasticizer that we have principally used in the examples described herein has been glycerin because of its low cost and ready availability. It is clear however that other plasticizers may be utilized such as propylene glycol or ethylene glycol without deviating from the novelty of the invention described herein.

In the examples cited herein, calcium chloride has been utilized to provide the calcium ion which precipitates the insoluble calcium alginate which serves to entrap into the calcium alginate matrix other components as described herein. It is clear, as has been mentioned, that other salts may be utilized to precipitate the alginate such as those of aluminum, zinc, copper, chromium, or silver and these insoluble alginates may readily be utilized to precipitate the coercive alginate mixtures described in the Examples provided herein without deviating from the essential merits of this invention. However, since the alginate compositions are to be utilized in and on biological tissues, the particular salt utilized to precipitate the alginate should be dictated by any restraints of toxicity or other untoward reactions that might result from their use for the preparation of bandages, dressings, or surgical products as herein described.

Note that in Example 8, we utilized bovine collagen as a component in the alginate mixture so that the insoluble calcium alginate gel will contain an agent which has hemostatic activity, and therefore would serve to stem the flow of blood from a wound when a dressing containing collagen is placed thereon. However, it is clear that other collagens such as porcine collagen may be incorporated into the alginate composition without deviating from the essential merits of this invention.

Note that in Example 3 we incorporate antibiotics into the alginate composition. Other medicinal agents 19 which may be desirable in the treatment of wounds such as anti- inflammatory agents or antibacterial agents, can be incorporated into the alginate mixture without deviating from the novelty of the invention described herein.

Many of the examples described herein utilize the surface active agents such as those characterized as Tween 80 or Pluronic L64. These surfaceactive agents are utilized primarily to effect a dispersion between the non-aqueous miscible components utilized in achieving a coercive mixture with the aqueous soluble sodium alginate in order to insure a homogeneity throughout the solutions that are then precipitated as insoluble alginate compositions.

Is These surface active agents are also utilized in order to improve the wetting of a medical dressing or bandage in the event that a wound may be exudating, and the enhanced wicking in such a bandage or medical dressing serves to quickly absorb any blood or serum from a wound into the dressing. Other surface active agents, such as the Na salt of dodecyl S04 (sodium lauryl sulfate) or a member of the group of Tweens (Tween 20, Tween 40, Tween 80, or Tween 85) may be incorporated into the alginate composition without deviating from the novelty of the invention described herein.

Note that in the examples cited herein, the effervescent compound that reacts with the water soluble dilute acetic acid with the resultant evolution of gases which become entrapped in the formation of the gel network is sodium bicarbonate.

Other water soluble effervescent compounds may be utilized and other acids may be utilized to produce the evolution of gases which become entrapped in the alginate gel network without deviating from the novelty of the invention described herein. Thus, various water insoluble metal salts that can react with water soluble acids are calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate dibasic, barium carbonate, or zinc carbonate. Examples of suitable acids would include acetic acid, lactic acid, maleic acid, gluconic acid, and ascorbic acids.

Should it be desirable to utilize gases other than carbon dioxide to form the foam that forms the stable hydrogel composition described herein, inert gases such as nitrogen or argon, or other gases may be directly introduced into the alginate composition described in the claims herein as long as the alginatel compositions described have a viscosity greater than the buoyancy of the gases entrapped therein. The addition of such other gases will cause the formation of stable hydrogel alginate foam compositions in accord with the novelty of the invention described herein.

21 Note that in Example 4, we introduce a hydrophilic chemical called "DriMop" for the purpose of enhancing the moisture-absorbing capacity of the dressing. Other hydrophilic compounds may be utilized in order to achieve an enhanced moisture absorption of the dressing without deviating from the novelty of the invention described herein.

Example 6 described herein incorporates a maltodextrin chemical within the alginate foam composition having a dextrose equivalent of 13.0 17.0. It is clear that other maltodextrins having dextrose equivalents other than 13.0 - 17.0 such as those which are available having dextrose equivalents of 4.0 - 7. 0 and 16.5 - 19.5, may be utilized within the scope of the invention described herein without deviating from the novelty of the invention herein described.

The above descriptions and examples illustrate particular constructions including the preferred embodiments of the solutions. However, the invention is not limited to the precise constructions described herein, but, rather, all modifications and improvements thereof encompassed within the scope of the invention.

22 CLAIMS 1. A process for making a water-insoluble alginate sponge or foam product to be utilized in the preparation of wound dressings or surgical products comprising the steps of:

(I) mixing together to form a composite liquid mixture (a) an aqueous solution of a water soluble alginate composition; (II) while allowing the total composition of (I) to be mixed, add a di- or trivalent cation metal ion capable of complexing the water-soluble alginate to form water-insoluble alginate hydrogels; (111) adding into the mixture (II) a gaseous foam-forming or effervescent compound(s) and a watersoluble acid and, (IV) pouring said composite mixture into a dish or a tray which is permitted to stand until the water component of the mixture has evaporated.

The process of claim 1 wherein said water-soluble alginate is selected from a group consisting of ammonium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium salts of alginate or mixtures thereof.

3, The process of claim 1 wherein said polyvalent cation is selected from a metal ion derived from salts selected from the group consisting of alkaline earth 23 metal salts, alkali metal salts, transition metal salts, and mixtures thereof.

4. The process of claim 1 wherein said cation is selected from the group consisting of calcium, barium, copper, magnesium, iron, zinc, aluminum, manganese, strontium, and mixtures thereof.

5. The process of claim 1 wherein the said effervescent compound is selected from group consisting of the alkali metal carbonates.

6. The process of claim 5'wherein said effervescent compound is sodium carbonate.

7. The process of claim 5 wherein said effervescent compound is sodium bicarbonate.

8. The process of claim 1 wherein said water- soluble acid is selected from the group consisting of acetic, lactic, malic, gluconic, and ascorbic acids.

9. The process of claim 1 wherein a medicament is added to the alginate foam composition.

10. The process of claim 9 wherein said medicament is selected from the group consisting of collagen, maltodextrin, antibiotics, antibacterial agents, anti-inflammatory agents, ascorbic acid, amino acids, and mixtures thereof.

11. The process of claim 1 wherein Natetraborate is added to the alginate foam composition.

12. The process of claim 1 where Ca S04 is added to the alginate foam composition.

24 13. The process of claim 1 wherein a plasticizer is added to the foam composition.

14. The process of claim 13 wherein said plasticizer is selected from a group consisting of glycerin, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, and polyethylene glycol or mixtures thereof.

15. The process of claim 1 wherein a surface active agent is added to the alginate foam composition.

16. The process of claim 15 wherein said surface active agent is selected from a group consisting of Tween 20, Tween 40, Tween 80, Tween 85, sodium lauryl sulphate, pluronic L64, or a mixture thereof.

17. The process of claim 1 wherein a hydrophilic agent is added to the alginate foam composition.

18. The process of claim 17 wherein the hydrophilic agent is the product called "DriMop" as manufactured by Multisorb Technologies.

19. The process of claim 1 wherein the foaming is produced by introducing a gas into the alginate composition.

20. The process of claim 19 where said gas producing the foam is selected from a group consisting of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, air, argon, neon, or mixtures thereof.

21. The process of claim 1 wherein the alginate mixture is poured onto a cloth layer contained in a tray so that the alginate composition thus penetrates into the cloth and, following drying, the calcium alginate composition is affixed to the cloth.

22. The process for making a water-insoluble alginate sponge or foam product to be utilized in the preparation of wound dressings or surgical products comprising the steps of:

(I) mixing together to form a composite liquid mixture (a) an aqueous solution of a water-soluble alginate composition, (II) adding to the mixture (I) a plasticizer, a surface active agent, and ammonium hydroxide, (III) while allowing the total composition of (I) and (II) to be mixed, adding a di- or trivalent cation metal ion capable of complexing the water-soluble alginate to form water-insoluble alginate hydrogels; (IV) adding into the mixture (III) a gaseous foam-forming or effervescent compound(s) and a water- soluble acid and, (V) pouring said composite mixture into a dish or a tray which is permitted to stand until the water component of the mixture has evaporated.

23. The process of claim 22 wherein said water- soluble alginate is selected from a group consisting of ammonium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium salts of alginate or mixtures thereof.

26 24. The process of claim 22 wherein said polyvalent cation is selected from a metal ion derived from salts selected from the group consisting of alkaline earth metal salts, alkali metal salts, 5 transition metal salts, and mixtures thereof.

25. The process of claim 22 wherein said cation is selected from the group consisting of calcium, barium, copper, magnesium, iron, zinc, aluminum, manganese, strontium, and mixtures thereof.

26. The process of claim 22 wherein the said effervescent compound is selected from group consisting of the alkali metal carbonates.

27. The process of claim 26 wherein said effervescent compound is sodium carbonate.

28. The process of claim 26 wherein said effervescent compound is sodium bicarbonate.

29. The process of claim 22 wherein said water soluble acid is selected from the group consisting of acetic, lactic, malic, gluconic, and ascorbic acids.

30. The process of claim 22 wherein a medicament is added to the alginate foam composition.

31. The process of claim 30 wherein said medicament is selected from the group consisting of collagen, maltodextrin, antibiotics, antibacterial agents, anti-inflammatory agents, ascorbic acid, amino acids, and mixtures thereof.

32. The process of claim 22 wherein Na 27 tetraborate is added to the alginate foam composition.

33. The process of claim 22 wherein Ca S04 'S added to the alginate foam composition.

34. The process of claim 22 wherein said plasticizer is selected from a group consisting of glycerin, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, and polyethylene glycol or mixtures thereof.

35. The process of claim 22 wherein said surface active agent is selected from a group consisting of Tween 20, Tween.40, Tween 80, Tween 85, sodium lauryl sulphate, pluronic L64, or a mixture thereof.

36. The process of claim 22 wherein a hydrophilic agent is added to the alginate foam composition.

37. The process of claim 36 wherein the hydrophilic agent is the product called 11Drimop" as manufactured by Multisorb Technologies.

38. The process of claim 22 wherein the foaming is produced by introducing a gas into the alginate composition.

39. The process of claim 38 where said gas producing the foam is selected from a group consisting of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, air, argon, neon, or mixtures thereof.

40. The process of claim 22 wherein the alginate mixture is poured onto a cloth layer contained in a tray so that the alginate composition thus penetrates 28 into the cloth and, following drying, the calcium alginate composition is affixed to the cloth.

41. A process for making a water-insoluble alginate sponge or foam product to be utilized in the preparation of wound dressings or surgical products comprising the steps of:

(I) mixing together to form a composite liquid mixture (a) an aqueous solution of a water soluble alginate composition; (II) adding to the mixture (I) a plasticizer and a surface active agent, (III) while allowing the total composition of (I) and (II) to be mixed, adding a di- or trivalent cation metal ion capable of complexing the water-soluble alginate to form water-insoluble alginate hydrogels; (IV) adding into the mixture (III) a gaseous foam-forming or effervescent compound(s) and a watersoluble acid and, 20 (V) sterilizing the water-insoluble alginate sponge or foam preparation as prepared above and adding to it aseptically a viable cell suspension, and, (VI) aseptically pouring said composite mixture into a dish or tray which is permitted to stand until the water component of the mixture has evaporated.

42. The process of claim 41 wherein said viable 29 cellular suspension is selected from a group consisting of human cells, animal cells, microbial cells, or mixtures thereof. 43. The process of claim 41 wherein said water- soluble alginate is

selected from a group consisting of ammonium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium salts of alginate or mixtures thereof.

44. The process of claim 41 wherein said polyvalent cation is selected from a metal ion derived from salts selected from the group consisting of alkaline earth metal salts, alkali metal salts, transition metal salts, and mixtures thereof.

45. The process of claim 41 wherein said cation is selected from the group consisting of calcium, barium, copper, magnesium, iron, zinc, aluminum, manganese, strontium, and mixtures thereof. 46. The process of claim 41 wherein the said effervescent compound is selected from group consisting of the alkali metal carbonates. 20 47. The process of claim 46 wherein said effervescent compound is sodium carbonate. 48. The process of claim 46 wherein said effervescent compound is sodium bicarbonate. 49. The process of claim 41 wherein said water- soluble acid is selected from the group consisting of acetic, lactic, malic, gluconic, and ascorbic acids.

50. The process of claim 41 wherein a medicament is added to the alginate foam composition.

51. The process of claim 50 wherein said medicament is selected from the group consisting of collagen, maltodextrin, antibiotics, antibacterial agents, anti-inflammatory agents, ascorbic acid, amino acids, and mixtures thereof.

52. The process of claim 41 wherein Na tetraborate is added to the alginate foam composition.

53. The process of claim 41 wherein Ca S04 'S added to the alginate foam composition.

54. The process of claim 41 wherein said plasticizer is selected from a group consisting of glycerin, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, and polyethylene glycol or mixtures thereof.

55. The process of claim 41 wherein said plasticizer is selected from a group consisting of glycerin, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, and polyethylene glycol or mixtures thereof.

56. The process of claim 41 wherein said surface active agent is selected from a group consisting of Tween 20, Tween 40, Tween 80, Tween 85, sodium lauryl sulphate, pluronic L64, or a mixture thereof.

57. The process of claim 41 wherein a hydrophilic agent is added to the alginate foam composition.

58. The process of claim 57 wherein the hydrophilic agent is the product called "Drimop,' as 31 manufactured by Multisorb Technologies.

59. The process of claim 41 wherein the foaming is produced by introducing a gas into the alginate composition.

60. The process of claim 59 where said gas producing the foam is selected from a group consisting of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, air, argon, neon, or mixtures thereof.

61. The process of claim 41 wherein the alginate mixture is poured onto a cloth layer con tained in a trayso that the alginate composition thus penetrates into the cloth and, following drying, the calcium alginate composition is affixed to the cloth.