CONICET | Buscador de Institutos y Recursos Humanos

tAn advanced encapsulation matrix that efficiently protects microalgae from harmful UV light withoutcausing toxicity to the entrapped culture is developed based on the electrostatic adsorption of the dyeRhodamine B on silica preformed particles during sol-gel synthesis. The three microalgae (Chlorella vul-garis, Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata and Chlamydomonas reinhardtii) were previously immobilized inalginate following the Two-step procedure. Once entrapped in the silica gel, Rhodamine B act as an innercut-off filter, protecting the encapsulated organisms from UV radiation. This matrix allows the steril-ization of encapsulation devices without affecting the viability of the entrapped microalgae cells. Thecondensation of Si(IV) in the presence of silica particles with adsorbed dye generates silica matrices withgood mechanical stability. Furthermore; no appreciable differences in microstructure, as assessed bySAXS (Small Angle X-ray Scattering), are caused by the addition of the dye.