The behavior of immobilized living cells. Characterization using isotopic tracers

Immobilization of electroporated cells for fabrication of cellular biosensors: physiological effects of the shape of calcium alginate matrices and foetal calf serum

In order to investigate the physiological effect of transfected cell immobilization in calcium alginate gels, we immobilized electroporated Vero cells in gels shaped either as spherical beads or as thin membrane layers. In addition, we investigated whether serum addition had a positive effect on cell proliferation and viability in either gel configuration. The gels were stored for four weeks in a medium supplemented or not with 20% (v/v) foetal calf serum. Throughout a culture period of four weeks, cell proliferation and cell viability were assayed by optical microscopy after provision of Trypan Blue. Non-elaborate culture conditions (room temperature, non-CO₂ enriched culture atmosphere) were applied throughout the experimental period in order to evaluate cell viability under less than optimal storage conditions. Immobilization of electroporated cells was associated with an initially reduced cell viability, which was gradually increased. Immobilization was associated with maintenance of cell growth for the duration of the experimental period, whereas electroporated cells essentially died after a week in suspension culture. Considerable proliferation of immobilized cells was observed in spherical alginate beads. In both gel configurations, addition of serum was associated with increased cell proliferation. The results of the present study could contribute to an improvement of the storability of biosensors based on electroporated, genetically or membrane-engineered cells.

Differential effect of the shape of calcium alginate matrices on the physiology of immobilized neuroblastoma N2a and Vero cells: a comparative study

In order to investigate the effect of cell immobilization in calcium alginate gels on cell physiology, we immobilized Vero or N2a neuroblastoma cells in gels shaped either as spherical beads or as thin membrane layers. Throughout a culture period of 4 weeks cell viability, RNA and cytoplasmic calcium concentration and glutathione accumulation were assayed by fluorescence microscopy after provision of an appropriate dye. Non-elaborate culture conditions were applied throughout the experimental period in order to evaluate cell viability under less than optimal storage conditions. Vero cell proliferation was observed only in spherical beads, while N2a cell proliferation was observed in both configurations until the third week of culture. Increased [Ca2+]cyt could be associated with cell proliferation only when cells were immobilized in spherical beads, while a considerable decrease in the biosynthesis of reduced glutathione and RNA was observed in cells immobilized in thin membrane layers. The observed effects of the shape of the immobilization matrix may be due to differences in external mass transfer resistance. Therefore, depending on cell type, cell proliferation could have been promoted by either increased (Vero) or decreased (N2a) nutrient and oxygen flow to immobilized cells. The results of the present study could contribute to an improvement of immobilized cell sensor storability.

On the merits of viable-cell immobilisation

Many advantages have been claimed over the years for the use of immobilised cells, both as enzyme systems and as whole viable cell systems for complete fermentation reactions. However, few of the claims have been fully substantiated, and may not even be entirely justified. Most research is involved with single applications and the best that can be hoped for is some evidence that immobilised cells in each of these individual cases display some advantage over the equivalent free cell system. The purpose of this review is to assess the merits of viable cell immobilisation in the light of published literature and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Particular attention is paid to the generally unanticipated, but widely observed enhanced stability of immobilised cell fermentation processes.

Product inhibition of immobilized Escherichia coli arising from mass transfer limitation

Mass transfer-limited removal of metabolic products led to product-inhibited growth of Escherichia coli that was immobilized in a model system. Comparison of the growth kinetics of immobilized and free-living cells revealed no further physiological differences between cells in these two modes of existence beyond those manifested in the local concentrations of substrate and product. Bacteria were retained on a microporous membrane in a dense, planar aggregate and were grown anaerobically on a glucose-based minimal medium. Radioisotope labeling of the immobilized cell mass with 35S was used to determine growth kinetic parameters. Growth rates in the immobilized cell layer were measured by an autoradiographic technique which allowed comparison of the size of the growing region with the rate of cell convection caused by growth. Immobilized cell growth rates and growth yields ranged from near maximal (0.56 h-1 and 39 g of dry cell weight/mol of glucose, respectively) to substantially reduced (0.15 h-1 and 15 g/mol). The depression of these kinetic parameters was attributed to product inhibition arising from mass transfer-limited removal of acidic waste products from the cell mass. A simple one-dimensional reaction-diffusion model, which incorporated data on the product-inhibited growth kinetics of free-living cells collected in a product-limited chemostat, satisfactorily predicted product inhibition of immobilized cell growth.