New method for preparing more stable microcapsules for the entrapment of genetically engineered cells

In this paper, we studied a new preparation method of microcapsules for entrapment of genetically engineered cells. Polyvinyl alcohol microcapsules having well defined shape, high mechanical strength, good biochemical and permeability properties were prepared by using low temperature physical cross-linking method. Comparing with currently used alginate-polylysine-alginate microcapsules, polyvinyl alcohol microcapsules have much higher mechanical strength. The low temperature physical crosslinking procedure of polyvinyl alcohol is nontoxic to the genetically engineered E. coli DH5alpha cell, which attained high activity in decomposing and metabolizing urea in vitro studies.