Immobilized cell bioreactors

This chapter comprises an integrative contribution to immobilized cell bioreactors technology. A short literature review is given in the introduction, followed by (1) the advances on cell immobilization technology, (2) immobilized cell bioreactors, and (3) their industrial developments. Finally, (4) the chapter makes a critique of immobilized cell bioreactors via a critical review investigation. Specifically, the effects of supports on kinetics and extremely low temperature fermentation, composite supports in relation to two- and three-layer fermentation, and the role of cell immobilization in cell factories development without genetic modifications are discussed. Likewise, the role of tubular cellulose and bacterial cellulose as promoter supports in fermentation are reported. Furthermore, supports and bioreactors, in correlation with multistage fixed bed tower bioreactor development and its applications, are reviewed extensively. Moreover, the cell immobilized bioreactors and their effects on industrial economic analysis, cost, and investment are also discussed. The cell immobilized bioreactors for low- and high-capacity bioprocessing and the industrialization of the technology are important subjects of this chapter. Due to the cell immobilized bioreactor being a technology suitable for beverage production, its effects on wine and beer quality is examined. Finally, an extensive critique of technology is performed of immobilization bioprocessing versus genetic modification, of immobilized cell bioreactor applications, and of the perspectives on nanobiotechnology applications.