Immobilization of P. pictorum in open pore agar, alginate and polylysine-alginate microcapsules for serum cholesterol depletion.

P. pictorum depletes serum cholesterol levels upon induction of the involved enzymes. Analysis of the fermentation broth shows cholesterol esterase and cholesterol oxidase activity. P. pictorum was immobilized in alginate beads, polylysine microcapsules and open pore agar beads. The pore size of the former two was too small to allow a barrier free mass transfer of lipoproteins. However, open pore agar beads depleted serum cholesterol. The rates of depletion were similar to those of free P. pictorum, suggesting a barrier free mass transfer. Furthermore, open pore agar beads could effectively retain P. pictorum, and no leakage was detected.