AFA Microalgae Extraction for Bioactive Concentration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for extracting and utilizing the bioactive components from Aphanizomenon Flos Aquae (AFA) microalgae lack efficient processes to concentrate its unique phycobiliproteins, phytochrome, and mycosporine-like amino acids, limiting their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor properties in nutritional, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical applications.
Innovation Solution
Aqueous extraction process involving centrifugation, size exclusion separation, and ultrafiltration to concentrate C-phycocyanin, phycoerythrocyanin, and phytochrome, combined with ethanol extraction for lipophilic components, resulting in high-concentration extracts that enhance the bioactive properties of AFA-phycocyanins and other molecules.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional extraction methods are used for AFA microalgae, then the extraction process is simple, but the concentration of bioactive components (phycobiliproteins, phytochrome, mycosporine-like amino acids) is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The extraction process is divided into multiple sequential stages: cell disruption, centrifugation to separate supernatant from precipitate, size exclusion chromatography, and ultrafiltration. Each stage targets specific bioactive components, progressively concentrating them while removing interfering substances. This segmentation enables achieving high concentration of multiple bioactive components simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent systematically extracts different bioactive components from AFA microalgae through selective procedures. Water-soluble components (phycobiliproteins, phytochrome) are extracted from the supernatant, while lipophilic components are extracted from the precipitate using organic solvents. This targeted extraction approach maximizes the concentration of each component class.
2Reliability
If multiple extraction stages are implemented to concentrate bioactive components, then the concentration and efficacy of extracts improve, but the extraction time and process duration increase
Solution Approach 1:
The extraction process maintains continuous productive action through optimized sequential steps. Cell disruption is immediately followed by centrifugation, then size exclusion chromatography, and finally ultrafiltration, with each step building upon the previous one. This continuous multi-stage approach efficiently concentrates bioactive components without unnecessary interruptions, achieving high efficacy while controlling process duration.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional extraction is used, then the process is simple and quick, but the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor properties are not fully utilized
Solution Approach 1:
The extracted bioactive components are demonstrated to possess multiple functions: antioxidant activity (scavenging free radicals), anti-inflammatory effects (inhibiting cyclooxygenase-2), and antitumor properties (inhibiting cell proliferation). The patent shows these components can be applied across diverse fields including pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and cosmetics, making the extraction system universally valuable despite its complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The process yields extracts with significantly increased antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, demonstrating potent inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 enzyme and antiproliferative effects, suitable for prophylaxis or treatment of inflammation and oxidative degeneration, and potential use in dietary supplements, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.
Implementation Method 1
centrifuging the product of step a) to separate the supernatant (retaining most of the cytoplasmatic fraction) from the precipitate (retaining most of the cell wall fraction)
Implementation Method 2
passing the supernatant through an ultra-filtration membrane. In particular, to prepare extracts concentrated in water-soluble components, the primary aqueous extract described above (Basic Extract) is subjected to size-exclusion ultrafiltration
Implementation Method 3
The lipophilic components of the extract are mainly represented by carotenes, chlorophyll, and alpha-linolenic acid (18:3n-3), all of which are present in relatively high amounts in AFA algae
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention provides extracts of the microalga Aphanizomenon Flos Aquae Aquae Ralfs ex Born. & Flah. Var. flos aquae (AFA Klamath) and biologically active components thereof, in particular AFA-phycocyanins, determined as the complex c-phycopcyanin/phycoerythrocyanin (including the chromophore phycoviolobilin), AFA-phytochrome and mycosporine-like aminoacids (MAAs), nutritional, cosmetic and pharmaceutical compositions containing the same, for use in the prophylaxis or treatment of diseases, disturbances or conditions involving acute or chronic inflammation and oxidative degeneration of body cells or tissues or uncontrolled cell proliferation.