On the merits of viable-cell immobilisation

Many advantages have been claimed over the years for the use of immobilised cells, both as enzyme systems and as whole viable cell systems for complete fermentation reactions. However, few of the claims have been fully substantiated, and may not even be entirely justified. Most research is involved with single applications and the best that can be hoped for is some evidence that immobilised cells in each of these individual cases display some advantage over the equivalent free cell system. The purpose of this review is to assess the merits of viable cell immobilisation in the light of published literature and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Particular attention is paid to the generally unanticipated, but widely observed enhanced stability of immobilised cell fermentation processes.