A novel chemically modified alginate hydrogel has been developed which combines an aromatic compound with a carbohydrate, where the aromatic compound is one or more amines combined with an alginate. The chemical structure of alginate is modified using different amines and different methods, including: (1) covalently bonding aminoethyl benzoic acid to the alginate backbone, and (2) oxidizing the vicinal diol in the alginate chain to an aldehyde before coupling to aminoethyl benzoic acid. Alternatively, the combined aromatic compound and carbohydrate can be a dopamine combined with the alginate. The chemically modified alginate and the methods used can be utilized to encapsulate a variety of bioactive substances for oral delivery in humans and animals, including, but not limited to: (i) drugs, medicines, enzymes, proteins, hormones, and vaccines, (ii) vitamins, minerals, micronutrients and/or other dietary supplements, (iii) probiotics and/or other microorganisms, (iv) cells, cell parts, and/or other biological materials, and/or (v) other bioactive substances.

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