Special Issue "Cell and Biomolecule Immobilization and Its Application in Fermentation, Biocatalysis, and Diagnostics"

Dear Colleagues,

Whole-cell immobilization is defined as the physical confinement or localization of intact cells to a certain defined region of space with the preservation of some desired activity of the cells. During the last 30 years, immobilized cell technology (ICT) has been developed as an effective tool to intensify fermentation processes. Various immobilization methods have been developed and applied successfully.

In biomolecule immobilization, the same principles are involved. Major progress has been made in the immobilization of proteins such as enzymes to create very efficient biocatalysts. Biomolecules such as antibodies, DNA, and glycans have been immobilized in microfluidic chips to create easy-to-use diagnostic chips.

This Special Issue will compile the current state-of-the-art of research and technology in “cell and biomolecule immobilization and biomolecule immobilization and its applications in fermentation, biocatalysis and diagnostics” and highlights prominent current research directions and applications with topics including:

• Techniques for immobilizing cells and biomolecules (including recent droplet microfluidics techniques for cell immobilization and microencapsulation).
• Immobilization of yeasts, bacteria, algae, plant cells, insect cells, and mammalian cells.
• Immobilization of proteins (enzymes, antibodies), DNA molecules, glycans, carbohydrates, and lipids.
• Advances in bioreactor design for immobilized cells.
• Advances in bioreactor design for biocatalysts.
• Immobilization of cells and biomolecules in the creation of diagnostic devices.
• Applications such as:
  • Yeast immobilization for (alcoholic) beverage production (wine, beer, cider, etc.);
  • Microbial ICT to produce food products (such as dairy products);
  • Microbial ICT to produce biofuels;
  • Microbial ICT for waste treatment;
  • ICT to produce biotherapeutics;
  • ICT to produce flavors and fine chemicals;
  • Biomolecule immobilization for diagnostic microfluidic chip development.

Prof. Dr. Ronnie G. Willaert
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Fermentation is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• cell immobilization
• biomolecule (protein, DNA, glycans, carbohydrates, lipids) immobilization
• immobilized cell technology (ICT)
• cell/biomolecule immobilization methods
• cell/biomolecule immobilization bioreactors
• alcoholic beverages
• food products
• biofuels
• waste treatment
• biotherapeutics
• flavors
• fine chemicals
• diagnostic chips