Photosynthetic hybrids materials design by plant cells encapsulation within an alginate-silica matrix for the production of highly valuable metabolites

This project lies in the design of photosynthetic hybrid materials to produce
metabolites with high added value. This technology exploits the
photosynthetic capacities of plant cells. The photosynthesis allows to
produce fine chemical substances from carbon dioxide and sunlight. This
capacity answers two contemporary problems: the shortage of fossil energy
and the atmospheric pollution. The production of metabolites can be
enriched thanks to the genetic engineering allowing the formation of
compounds naturally absent in the metabolism of the plant. It is so possible
to produce, for example, recombinant antibodies. The biological material,
very sensitive to the external stress, is protected by encapsulation in a
matrix of alginate and silica. The first one is extracted from a brown alga,
whereas the second is found abundantly in the earth's crust. The material is
formed by extrusion in drops shape of a hybrid mixture in a coacervation
solution using Sol-Gel process in soft conditions. This one has to answer
biological requirements such as biocompatibility, mechanical resistance,
transparency, chemical inertia and especially porosity. This biotechnology
would lead to an exploitation extended in photobioreactor thanks to the
protection offered by the material. The physical separation established
between the medium and the cells also facilitates the recovery of the
product of interest.