IMMOBILIZATION OF PHOTOSYNTHETIC CELLS BASED ON FILM-FORMING EMULSION POLYMERS

Applications requiring the immobilisation of whole cells presents a need for rigorous control of the 'environment' of the cells more so even than in the use of isolated enzymes, since the phase must be isotonic with the cell, if the cell membrane is to remain intact. In this paper we report on an immobilisation matrix for whole cells. The preparation of film forming emulsion polymers based on methacrylates and acrylates is described. Photosynthetic bacteria were immobilised in latex films retaining nearly 100% activity of the photosynthetic electron transport chain, determined in an amperometric system. The diffusion properties of the latex films were studied in rotating disc electrode experiments.