Micrographs were obtained using a Hitachi SU6600 Scanning Electron Microscope. Beads fabricated using 1% ALG, 5% ALG, or the proposed ALGPODES (diluted and containing the enzyme/dyes) were freeze dried during 24 hs using a LabConco FreeZone 4.5 Liter Freeze Dry System (Kansas City, MO). This method was selected to preserve (as much as possible) the structure of the beads.