Use of perfluorocarbon for oxygen supply to immobilised Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2)

A perfluorocarbon was used alone and emulsified with pluronic F-68 to carry oxygen to immobilised Streptomyces coelicolor cultures. The final biomass concentrations obtained decreased with increasing perfluorocarbon concentration. The maximum antibiotic concentration achieved and volumetric glucose consumption rate increased with increasing perfluorocarbon concentration. Both decreased, however when the perfluorocarbon concentration exceeded 40% (v/v). The use of 10% perfluorocarbon emulsified with pluronic F-68 resulted in both operational stability and approximately double the antibiotic concentration compared to the control and 10% perfluorocarbon (v/v) without pluronic. It seems that the activity of immobilised cells can be improved by additional oxygen supplied with perfluorocarbon or its emulsion.