Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology

, Volume 26, Issue 1, pp 28–35 | Cite as

Factors affecting the immobilisation of plant cells on reticulated polyurethane foam particles

  • M. J. C. Rhodes
  • J. I. Smith
  • R. J. Robins
Biotechnology
Received:
Revised:

Summary

Factors affecting the immobilisation and subsequent growth of plant cells in reticulated polyurethane foam particles have been studied using three plant species. Polyurethane foam from a number of commercial sources has been screened and a foam having a low phytotoxicity and good retention of plant cells selected for use. Particles (8×8×8 mm) of the material were seeded with plant cells from suspension culture and cells grown immobilised in particles until they occupied >80% of the available volume. For all species, foams containing small pores (60–80 ppi) were most effective in immobilising and retaining cells. For efficient use of the inoculum, high partial volumes of foam particles are required; with partial volumes above 40%, over 80% of the inoculum is taken up by the particles. While the initial immobilisation process presumably involves weak interactions between cells and the support material, factors such as inoculum size and the length of the loading period have been found to affect the immobilisation of cells and their subsequent growth within the matrix. A preliminary study of the requirements for the maintenance of viability of immobilised cultures at high cell densities has been made.

Keywords

Foam Plant Species Plant Cell Cell Density Polyurethane 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag 1987

Authors and Affiliations

  • M. J. C. Rhodes
    • 1
  • J. I. Smith
    • 1
  • R. J. Robins
    • 1
  1. 1.Plant Cell Biotechnology GroupAFRC Institute of Food Research (Norwich Laboratory)NorwichUK

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