The alginate beads were whitish, with a sub-spherical to pyriform
shape (Fig. 1 A–B), measuring 1–2 mm in diameter, and the yeast cells
appeared evenly entrapped within the matrix, exposed to the external
surface (Fig. 1 C). On the contrary, magnetic beads presented a dark colour
and irregular shape (Fig. 2 A), with uneven distribution of yeast cells
dispersed among iron nanoparticles (Fig. 2 B–C). Both calcium alginate
and magnetic beads could be separated from the liquid matrix, the magnetic
beads having the advantage of being easily removed from the
aqueous solution with a magnet (not shown).