ABSTRACT
A variety of systems can be employed for cell and enzyme immobilization. Techniques for immobilizing viable cells, tissue, and bioactive agents within protective semipermeable microcapsules have been developed in numerous laboratories, with applications ranging from cell transplantation to biotransformation to cell cultivation. Cells and cell products can be concentrated and at the same time the desired product can be separated from the culture medium. The observation that the alginate concentration might be a key factor in the growth of the cells was confirmed with immobilized cell culture studies. A dynamic two-dimensional model was also developed in our laboratory for cells cultured in stationary microcapsules. The presence of a partially impermeable core might hinder the commercial use of microcapsules in cell culture engineering by decreasing productivity, and may affect clinical application of encapsulated cells/tissue in transplantation by affecting long-term cell viability.
