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The immobilisation of Euglena gracilis Z cells in a calcium alginate matrix maintained respiratory and photosynthetic activities and ultrastructural integrity. Moreover, immobilization did not prevent Euglena cells from greening inside the gel beads. Electron microscopy demonstrated that the immobilized cells were fixed in the same cellular state as they were when the immobilization occurred. This can he explained by simultaneous reaction of both Ca2+ and the alginate with the cells. Some hypotheses about the role of C2+ are discussed. In addition, long term storage (2 years) in calcium alginate has been performed permitting applications in algal storage.

Primary cultivated rabbit articular chondrocytes were immobilized in calcium alginate beads. Both free and entrapped cells were allowed to grow under normal conditions. After long-term immobilization, the cells still exhibited metabolic activities, patterns of division, synthesis and secretion of extracellular matrix macromolecules such as type II collagen and proteoglycans. After 38 days, immobilized rabbit articular chondrocytes predominantly expressed type II but not type I collagen. Thus, they maintained their cartilage pheno-type. After bead lysis, harvested cells showed normal growth patterns when resuspended in culture medium. On the basis of these results, long-duration storage and large-scale production of extracellular matrix components are being investigated.

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