Bacterial Cell Homogenate Processing Without Functional Loss

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing industrial methods for producing bacterial components or bacterial extracts, such as lysates or homogenates, face challenges in preserving the metabolic activity and functional properties of bacterial components due to mechanical lysis, leading to instability and variability in product quality and stability over time.

Innovation Solution

A process involving pressure homogenization is used to break down bacterial cells without mechanical contact, maintaining the structural integrity and functionality of cell wall components like peptidoglycan, which are then stabilized through freeze-drying or spraying, and optionally combined with additives to create stable homogenates for various applications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If mechanical lysis is used to break down bacterial cells, then cell breaking efficiency is improved, but metabolic activity and functional properties of bacterial components deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecell breaking efficiencyVSAvoidmetabolic activity and functional properties

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical lysis systems (stirrers, mixers, centrifuges with direct contact elements) with a high-pressure homogenization system that uses pressure waves and fluid dynamics to break down cell walls without mechanical contact, thereby preserving metabolic activity and functional properties while achieving efficient cell disruption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention employs high-pressure homogenization using hydraulic principles, where pressurized fluid forces cells through a narrow orifice, creating shear forces and pressure changes that disrupt cell walls without mechanical contact, thus maintaining the integrity of bacterial components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Speed

If mechanical stirring or mixing is used for cell lysis, then processing speed is improved, but product stability over time deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing speedVSAvoidproduct stability over time

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical stirring and mixing systems with high-pressure homogenization that uses pressure-driven fluid flow to achieve cell disruption, eliminating the direct mechanical contact that causes instability while maintaining efficient processing speeds through optimized pressure parameters

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If high rotation speeds are used in mechanical stirrers or mixers, then cell breaking efficiency is improved, but structural integrity of cell wall components deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecell breaking efficiencyVSAvoidstructural integrity of cell wall components

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces high-speed mechanical stirrers and mixers with high-pressure homogenization that uses controlled pressure forces to break down cell walls, achieving efficient cell disruption while preserving the structural integrity of cell wall components like peptidoglycan through non-mechanical contact

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the fundamental parameter from rotational speed to pressure level, using high-pressure homogenization where controlled pressure forces (rather than mechanical rotation) achieve cell disruption while maintaining structural integrity of bacterial components through precise parameter optimization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 ensures that cell wall components remain active and stable over time and temperature changes, enabling the production of reproducible and functional products for pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and cosmetic uses.

Implementation Method 1

A process involving pressure homogenization is used to break down bacterial cells without mechanical contact

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure homogenization: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 2

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFreeze-drying: Freeze Drying

Data Source

PatentUS12553023B2Homogenisation process for the preparation of a cellular component homogenate

Publication Date: 2026.02.17 PROBIOTICAL SPA

AI summary

The present invention relates to a cellular component homogenate in liquid form, as well as to a cellular component homogenate in solid form, preferably as sprayed powder. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a homogenisation process for the preparation of said cellular component homogenate in liquid form and said cellular component homogenate in solid form, preferably as sprayed powder. Lastly, the present invention relates to a composition comprising said cellular component homogenate in solid form and, optionally, one or more pharmaceutical or food grade or cosmetic additives and excipients, for use in the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, medical devices, foods for special medical purposes, dietary supplements and food industry both in the human and veterinarian field, as well as for use in the cosmetics industry.