Preliminary investigation of some polysaccharides as a carrier for cell entrapment.

Entrapment of cells within spheres of polysaccharide gel has become the most widely used technique for immobilizing living cells. Polysaccharide pectin, formed gel with calcium ions, was investigated as a precursor of spherical calcium polysaccharide gel beads. The type of pectin sample was found to be important in the formation of the beads. Partially deesterified pectin with a lower degree of esterification provided spherical beads and was chosen for immobilization of the yeast cells, Sacchararomyces cerevisiae, and compared to those with alginate. The effect of storage condition of the beads on the viability of the entrapped cells was also studied. After storage at 4 degreesC or -40 degreesC for 1 month, even lyophilization before storage, the beads with entrapped cells were sufficiently stable when compared to suspension of non-entrapped yeast cells.