by Wing-cheung Pang. / Thesis (M.Sc.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1988. / Bibliography: leaves 45-56.

Renal failure uremia occurs when the kidneys fail to function properly. Despite being the main treatment, dialysis and other therapeutic approaches are not only associated with numerous long-term adverse complications often leading to morbidity and mortality events, but are also not affordable. Orally administrating Alginate-Poly-L-Lysine-Alginate microcapsules entrapping live yeast cells to treat renal failure uremia has not yet been investigated. In this thesis, the growth and microencapsulation of yeast were optimized. The efficacy of these microcapsules in removing unwanted electrolytes was tested in vitro in simulated gastro-intestinal media, in vitro in a column bioreactor and in vivo in an uremic rat model. Results showed that these novel microcapsules can not only maintain morphological stability and membrane integrity under gastro-intestinal environments and mechanical stresses, but also, preserve the viability of yeast. These microcapsules were successful in reducing urea concentrations while not harming the human GI tract's microbial flora.

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