Production of enzymes by plant cells immobilized by sol-gel silica

Ajuga reptans cells are cultivated and used for production of invertase. These plant cells are immobilized by a sol-gel SiO2 membrane, which is built up directly on the cell surface by exposure to a gaseous flow of silicon alcoxide precursors. The immobilization modifies the metabolic activity of cells, resulting in a 40-fold increase in invertase production with respect of free cells. Results concerning total release of proteins, cell growth and produced invertase activity are discussed, considering the absence of breeding, induced by SiO2 immobilization, the prominent factor promoting the observed exceptional increase in invertase productivity.