Oxygen uptake by entrapped hybridoma cells

Oxygen consumption by hybridoma cells immobilized in 1- and 3.9-mm-diameter calcium alginate beads was measured. The entrapped cells consumed oxygen at about 10 micromol/min per 10(9) cells, regardless of the bead size and cell loading. In contrast, the same cells in suspension culture respire at specific rates of 3-8 micromol/min per 10(9) cells (depending on the cell density). The growth rate of the immobilized cells was significantly reduced, while specific antibody production was comparable to that of free cells.