Production of valuable drugs from plant cells immobilized by hybrid sol-gel SiO2

Catharantus roseus cells are supported on a polyester fiber mat and encapsulated by a porous layer of SiO2 modified by Si-CH3 and Si-H bonds. This layer is obtained by reaction of Si-alkoxides in the gas phase with H2O adsorbed on the cell surface or with exposed -OH groups of cellulosic cell membrane. Viability and alkaloid production of cells are maintained after encapsulation. An experimental reactor allows study of secondary metabolite productivity, which is increased by two orders of magnitude with respect to that of free cells. Sucrose consumption kinetics are also studied and related to the viability of encapsulated cells.