This paper experimentally and theoretically investigates light transfer in agar-immobilized
cell cultures. Certain biotechnological applications such as production of metabolites
secreted by photosynthetic microorganisms require cells to be immobilized in biopolymers to
minimize contamination and to facilitate metabolite recovery. In such applications, light
absorption by cells is one of the most important parameters affecting cell growth or
metabolite productivity. Modeling light transfer therein can aid design and optimize …