Bee Venom Purification via pH Adjustment and Nano-filtration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for purifying bee venom often compromise the content of its main physiologically active substances during virus clearance, as they are not effective in removing viruses without affecting the bioactive components.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the preparation of a bee venom solution, followed by acid treatment to adjust the pH to 2.0-4.0 and subsequent filtration through a nano-filter of 10-20 nm, specifically using polyethersulfone (PES) membranes, to inactivate and remove viruses like BVDV, ZIKV, PPV, and BACV while maintaining high melittin content and filtration efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional virus clearance methods (ultra-filtration, chromatography, cold ethanol fraction, strong acid treatment, gamma ray irradiation, heat treatment) are applied to bee venom purification, then viruses are removed or inactivated, but the content of main physiologically active substances (melittin) is affected and reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by adjusting pH to 2.0-4.0 through acid treatment to inactivate viruses, then using nano-filtration with specific pore size (10-20 nm) to remove viral particles while preserving melittin. This controlled parameter adjustment achieves virus clearance without significantly reducing melittin content, resolving the contradiction between virus removal effectiveness and active substance preservation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs nano-filter membranes with precisely controlled pore sizes (10-20 nm) that allow melittin molecules to pass through while retaining and removing larger viral particles. This selective porous structure enables physical separation based on size differences, achieving effective virus removal while preserving the quantity of physiologically active melittin
2Reliability
If strong acid treatment is used to inactivate viruses, then virus infectivity is reduced, but the physiologically active substances in bee venom are degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by conducting acid treatment at controlled pH (2.0-4.0) and time parameters to inactivate viruses before the main filtration process. This preliminary inactivation step is optimized to achieve sufficient virus deactivation while limiting exposure time and acidity intensity to prevent degradation of melittin and other active components
Solution Approach 2:
The patent carefully controls acid treatment parameters (pH 2.0-4.0, treatment time) to achieve virus inactivation while minimizing damage to bee venom composition. By adjusting these parameters within specific ranges, the process differentiates between viral structures (which are inactivated) and melittin peptides (which are preserved), resolving the contradiction between virus inactivation and composition stability
3Reliability
If conventional filtration methods are used to remove viruses, then virus removal is achieved, but filtration rate and yield are low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses nano-filter membranes with optimized pore sizes (10-20 nm) that provide high flux rates while maintaining effective virus removal. The nanoscale porosity creates optimal flow characteristics that allow rapid passage of filtered substances while effectively blocking viral particles, thereby achieving both high virus removal effectiveness and high filtration rate
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces conventional slow mechanical filtration methods with nano-filtration technology that operates on different physical principles. The nano-filter system uses controlled pore structure and pressure differentials to achieve rapid separation, substituting traditional mechanical filtration with a more efficient nanoscale separation mechanism that dramatically improves filtration rate while maintaining virus removal effectiveness
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 approach effectively removes viruses and impurities from bee venom with high filtration rates and yields, preserving the bioactive substances, making the purified bee venom suitable for pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications in treating inflammatory diseases.
Implementation Method 1
removing the virus by filtering the pH-adjusted bee venom in step (b) through a nano-filter of 10 to 20 nm
Implementation Method 2
inactivating the virus by adjusting pH of the bee venom prepared in step (a) to 2.0 to 4.0 through acid treatment
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a bee venom-purifying method comprising a virus clearance process and a composition for preventing or treating inflammatory disease by using same, the method comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a bee venom solution containing bee venom; (b) adjusting the pH of the bee venom solution prepared in step (a) into 2.0 to 4.0 by acid treatment to primarily deactivate viruses; and (c) filtering the pH-adjusted bee venom solution of step (b) through a nanofilter of 10 to 20 nm to secondarily remove viruses.