Production of secondary metabolites with plant cells immobilized in a porous inorganic support

摘要

PCT No. PCT/IT95/00083 Sec. 371 Date Nov. 17, 1997 Sec. 102(e) Date Nov. 17, 1997 PCT Filed May 18, 1995 PCT Pub. No. WO96/36703 PCT Pub. Date Nov. 21, 1996Secondary metabolites of viable plant cells are produced with the cells immobilized in a porous inorganic support. Immobilization includes the steps of: (a) preparing a support comprising a substantially uniform and porous matrix of inorganic material having a tensile strength of at least 500 MPa; (b) introducing a culture of viable plant cells into the pores of said matrix; (c) entrapping the plant cells by coating the matrix with a sol or colloidal suspension not interfering with the cell viability; and (d) immobilizing the entrapped cells within the matrix with a reactive gas including a carrier gas saturated with volatile SiO2 or organic modified SiO2 precursors. The tensile strength may be provided by impregnating the matrix with a gelling solution of SiO2 precursor for increasing stiffness of the matrix. The matrix may be a SiO2 or inorganic oxide matrices, in which the weight ratio between cell load and inorganic matrix ranges between 1x10-4 and 1x10-2. The immobilized cells are not released in solution over a period of 6 months and maintain their viability while producing secondary metabolites.