Factors affecting densities, distribution and growth patterns of cells inside immobilization supports

Immobilized cells can adopt different densities, distributions and growth patterns inside polysaccharide gel beads. These arrangements are closely related to both the morphological characteristics of a given cell strain and the internal structure of the gel bead. We have encountered different kinds of structural inhomogeneities (e.g. superficial crusts, radial shafts and rnicrochannels, discrete cavities, concentric ordered gel block layers, amorphous gel blocks, random fractures, etc.) in polysaccharicle gel beads while working under different experimental conditions. These supramacromolecular structure are important factors to take into account for the development of microorganisms inside the gel matrix and for the utilization of immobilized cells as biocatalysts.