Bacterial Membrane Vesicle Production via Ionizing Irradiation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for producing bacterial membrane vesicles face challenges such as low yield, contamination from toxic residues, and altered antigenicity due to the use of antibiotics and detergents, making standardized and efficient production difficult.

Innovation Solution

The use of ionizing irradiation, specifically X-rays, to stimulate bacteria and isolate membrane vesicles without chemical irritants, allowing for high-yield, high-purity production in an industrialized process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If antibiotics, detergents and oxidants are used to facilitate membrane vesicle production, then the production efficiency is improved, but toxic residues are generated which bring uncertainties to applications

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemembrane vesicle production efficiencyVSAvoidtoxic residues

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces chemical methods (antibiotics, detergents, oxidants) with physical methods (ionizing irradiation, specifically gamma-ray irradiation) to induce membrane vesicle production. This substitution eliminates toxic chemical residues while maintaining production efficiency, as the irradiation method induces vesicle formation through physical energy input without leaving harmful contaminants in the final product.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the induction parameter from chemical concentration to physical irradiation dose. By controlling the gamma-ray irradiation dose (e.g., 10-100 Gy), the method achieves controlled membrane vesicle production without the need for chemical additives, thereby eliminating toxic residues while maintaining reproducible production efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If antibiotics, detergents and oxidants are used to stimulate bacteria, then membrane vesicle production is enhanced, but the intrinsic conformation and antigenicity of outer membrane are changed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemembrane vesicle productionVSAvoidouter membrane conformation and antigenicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces chemical stimulation with physical irradiation to induce membrane vesicle production. This substitution preserves the intrinsic conformation and antigenicity of the outer membrane because gamma-ray irradiation induces vesicle formation through physical energy input without chemically modifying the membrane structures, thereby maintaining the natural antigenic properties needed for vaccine applications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Quantity of substance

If a large amount of bacterial cells are cultured to harvest membrane vesicles, then the yield is improved, but additional purification processes are needed to obtain vesicles of certain quality

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemembrane vesicle yieldVSAvoidpurification process

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by using ionizing irradiation to induce membrane vesicle production before harvesting. This pre-treatment causes the bacteria to naturally release membrane vesicles into the medium, simplifying subsequent purification steps. The irradiation step converts intracellular vesicles to extracellular ones that can be easily separated from bacterial cells through standard centrifugation and filtration, reducing the need for complex additional purification processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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

This method significantly increases the yield and immunogenicity of bacterial membrane vesicles, enabling their use as vaccines or pharmaceutical carriers with improved antigenicity and suitability for large-scale industrial production.

Implementation Method 1

The present invention first uses ionizing irradiation—X-rays to irradiate bacteria

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectIonizing irradiation: Ionisation

Implementation Method 2

The present invention first uses ionizing irradiation—X-rays to irradiate bacteria

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectX-ray: X-Ray

Data Source

PatentUS20220378902A1Bacterial membrane vesicles, and separation and preparation system and method therefor

Publication Date: 2022.12.01 SICHUAN UNIV

AI summary

The present invention belongs to the field of microbiology, and particularly relates to membrane vesicles (MVs) isolated from bacteria, and an isolation and preparation system and method for the membrane vesicles, and applications of the membrane vesicles. The bacteria of the present invention comprise Gram-positive bacteria and Gram-negative bacteria. The invention uses ionizing irradiation to irradiate bacteria, and isolates and purifies the produced membrane vesicles. The membrane vesicles prepared can be used as a vaccine, a vaccine adjuvant and/or a pharmaceutical carrier. In addition, the present invention provides a biological composition comprising the membrane vesicles and inactivated bacteria. In addition, the present invention also provides a preparation system, and isolation and purification system for bacterial membrane vesicles and the corresponding method. The membrane vesicles obtained by using the system and method have high yield, high purity and easy to be industrialized.