Immobilized Cell Cultures - Plant cells and cell groups may be encapsulated in a suitable material, e.g., agarose, calcium alginate, etc., or entrapped in membranes or stainless steel screens. The gel beads containing cells may be packed in a suitable column or, alternatively, cells may be packed in a column of a membrane or wire cloth.

Liquid medium is continuously run through the column to provide nutrients and aeration to cells. Immobilization of cells changes their cellular physiology in comearison to suspension culture cells; this offers several advantages for their use in biochemical production, but they are usually not used for other studies