Unsteady Mass Transfer of Nutrients in Gels with Channels of Different Spatial Structures

Abstract

The dynamics of the development of immobilized cells in a gel under conditions of limited mass transfer of nutrients across the interface was considered. The goal of this study was to find methods for effective cultivation of living microorganisms in the gel due to the correct choice of the structure of internal channels, when nutrients are delivered to the gel by the convective-diffusion mechanism. The variation of the relative intensity of transmitted light along the height of the agarose gel sample with living yeast cells during nutrient solution diffusion from the surface with time was determined by spectroscopy. The depth of the gel layer at which the vital activity of microorganisms is provided was evaluated. The possibility of forming time-stable linear and branching channels in the gel was established experimentally. The possibility of their stable use for convective supply of nutrient in the volume was verified. The tendencies of diffusion of nutrients from the channels in the gel with immobilized cells were determined. The 3D structure of channels that provides an increase in the efficiency of cell nutrition in the gel volume was discussed.