Screening of matrix suitable for immobilization of microbial cells

To find a suitable matrix for immobilization of microbial cells, synthetic and natural polymers were screened. As a result,kappa-carrageenan,iota-carrageenan, furcellaran, sodium alginate, ethyl succinylated cellulose, succinylated zein, and 2-methyl-5-vinyl-pyridine-methylacrylate-methacrylic acid copolymer were studied. These polymers were induced to gel under mild conditions.Streptomyces phaeochromogenes cells having glucose isomerase activity were successfully immobilized in these polymer matrices. If a gelinducing reagent were added to a substrate solution, these gel matrices could be stabilized. The microbial cells did not leak out from the gel lattice. When these immobilized cells were treated with hardening reagents such as glutaraldehyde or tannins, the gel matrices were strengthened, and the glucose isomerase activity became stable for a long period even in the absence of gel-inducing reagents. Among these polymer matrices tested,kappa -carrageenan was most suitable for immobilization of microbial cells.