What is immobilized cell technology?

Immobilized cell technology is a technology that fixes biological cells with certain physiological functions such as microbial cells, plant cells or animal cells in a certain way and uses them as solid biocatalysts. Immobilized cells and immobilized enzyme technology together constitute the modern immobilized biocatalyst technology.

Immobilized cells are widely used in industry, medicine, pharmacy, chemical analysis, environmental protection, energy development and other fields. For example, in industry, immobilized cells producing glucose isomerase are used to produce high fructose corn syrup; Using bacteria, mold or yeast cells containing α amylase to immobilize glucoamylase can directly convert starch into glucose. Yeast was embedded in calcium alginate or carrageenan to produce beer by batch or continuous fermentation. Using immobilized yeast cells to produce alcohol or wine; In addition, immobilized cells can be used to produce a large number of fermented products, such as amino acids, organic acids, antibiotics, biochemical drugs and steroid hormones. In medicine, if the immobilized islet cells are made into microcapsules, diabetes can be treated; Biosensors made of immobilized cells can be used for medical diagnosis. In chemical analysis, various immobilized cell sensors can be made, and besides the above medical diagnosis, acetic acid, ethanol, glutamic acid, ammonia and BOD can also be determined. In addition, immobilized cells have important applications in environmental protection, productivity and biochemical research.