Alternative gel based material red seaweed for ultrasonography examination

Abstract

Background: Red seaweed extract of kappa and iota carrageenan is commonly used as a gel base. Kappa carrageenan is stiffed or breakable that may experience syneresis. Iota carrageenan has a softer gel texture, elastic, and has less possibility of syneresis, but not as strong as kappa carrageenan gel. Therefore, kappa and iota carrageenan can be mixed to obtain better gel properties and water-soluble. It will be proposed as a carrageenan-based ultrasound gel as acoustics connector, certainly in renal ultrasonography (USG) examination. Objectives: To demonstrate the ability of gel made from red seaweed extract as an intermediary for ultrasonic waves in ultrasound examination. Material and methods: A quasi-experimental study with post-test only control group design to reveal the potency of red seaweed (carrageenan) extract as an alternative gel in renal USG examination. A total of 22 voluntary respondents were included in this present study. Results: Red seaweed extract based gel can be used as an intermediary for ultrasonic waves in ultrasound examination. Quality of renal ultrasound image by a well-known manufactured carbomer-based ultrasound gel product (Gel A) compared to alternative carrageenan-based ultrasound gel (Gel B) was not different. Conclusion: The finding is carrying an expectation to lift the potency of red seaweed extract as carrageenan-based ultrasound gel in renal ultrasonography (USG) examination. Considering its environmental friendly and inexpensive nature, carrageenan-based gel extracted from red seaweed can be proposed as an alternative ultrasound gel in renal ultrasonography (USG) examination. Journal of Associated Medical Sciences 2017; 50(2): 307-313. Doi: 10.14456/jams.2017.31

Keywords

• Red seaweed
• carrageenan
• ultrasound gels
• radiology
• USG examination.