Calcium alginate elastic capsules for microalgal cultivation

Abstract

Calcium alginate elastic capsules with a core–shell structure are versatile spherical solid beads that can be produced in large quantities using various techniques. This type of capsule is a promising platform for cell culture applications, owing to its mechanical elasticity and transparency. This paper reports the production of calcium alginate capsules with high consistency, and for the first time, demonstrates the feasibility of the capsules for microalgal cultivation. Cell growth analysis reveals that the vibrationally-shaken calcium alginate elastic capsule platform yielded a higher maximum cell number (4.86 × 10⁸ cells per mL) during the cultivation period than the control solution platforms. Aquafeed and food supplements for humans are the targeted applications of this novel platform.