Blue Fish Protein Hydrolysate for Cognitive Decline

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a lack of products on the nutraceutical and pet food markets that effectively utilize eco-friendly processes to provide significant amounts of bioactive ingredients like DHA, EPA, and phospholipids from blue fish for preventing age-related cognitive decline in humans and animals.

Innovation Solution

A protein hydrolyzate derived from blue fish, specifically with a degree of hydrolysis of at least 10%, containing at least 80% water-soluble proteins with a molecular weight less than 1000 Da, 0.3% phospholipids, and 0.5% DHA and EPA, is developed, along with a process involving grinding, pH adjustment, enzyme addition, heating, separation, and drying to create a bioactive peptide-rich composition.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of substance

If conventional fish processing methods are used, then fish byproducts are discarded or underutilized, but significant amounts of bioactive ingredients (DHA, EPA, phospholipids) are wasted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebioactive ingredientsVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of substanceVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts bioactive ingredients (DHA, EPA, phospholipids, proteins) from blue fish byproducts through a systematic processing approach. The method separates and concentrates these valuable components from the fish matrix, transforming waste material into a functional hydrolyzate product with specific compositional requirements (≥0.5% DHA+EPA, ≥0.3% phospholipids, ≥80% water-soluble proteins <1000 Da).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies controlled parameter changes during processing, specifically adjusting pH levels and temperature conditions to optimize the extraction and hydrolysis of bioactive compounds. The degree of hydrolysis is controlled to achieve the desired molecular weight distribution of proteins, ensuring maximum bioactivity while maintaining process efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Quantity of substance

If blue fish byproducts are fully utilized through hydrolysis, then bioactive peptide content increases, but the process requires multiple steps (grinding, pH adjustment, enzyme addition, heating, separation, drying)

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebioactive peptidesVSAvoidprocess steps
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the hydrolysis process into distinct operational phases: grinding the fish byproducts, adjusting pH to optimal levels, adding specific enzymes, controlled heating, separation of components, and drying. This segmentation allows each step to be optimized independently while maintaining overall process efficiency and product quality consistency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses pH adjustment and enzyme addition as intermediary steps to facilitate the hydrolysis reaction. These intermediaries enable controlled breakdown of proteins into bioactive peptides without requiring extreme conditions, and the separation step acts as an intermediary to isolate the desired bioactive components from the reaction mixture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Stability of the object's composition

If a standardized hydrolyzate product is produced with specific compositional requirements, then product quality and consistency improve, but manufacturing precision and control are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehydrolyzate compositionVSAvoidcompositional control
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements compositional control through monitoring and adjustment during processing. The degree of hydrolysis, protein solubility, and bioactive compound content are controlled to meet specific specifications (≥80% water-soluble proteins <1000 Da, ≥0.5% DHA+EPA, ≥0.3% phospholipids), ensuring consistent product quality across batches.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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 blue fish hydrolyzate demonstrates neuroprotective effects, improves cognitive abilities, and reduces stress/anxiety, serving as a preventative and therapeutic agent for age-related cognitive decline in both humans and animals.

Implementation Method 1

a protein hydrolyzate obtained from at least one protein source from blue fish comprising (i) a degree of hydrolysis (DH) of at least 10%

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrolysis: Hydrolysis

Implementation Method 2

heating, separation, and drying to create a bioactive peptide-rich composition

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 3

separation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSedimentation: Sedimentation

Data Source

PatentEP4007499B1Protein hydrolysate obtained from blue fish
Publication Date: 2023.12.20 SPECIALITES PET FOOD
  • EP4007499B1 patent drawingFigure 1a
  • EP4007499B1 patent drawingFigure 1b
  • EP4007499B1 patent drawingFigure 1c

AI summary

The invention relates to a protein hydrolysate which is obtained from at least one protein source derived from blue-backed fish and which comprises (i) a degree of hydrolysis (DH) of at least 10%, (ii) at least 80% water-soluble proteins having a molecular weight of less than 1000 Da, (iii) at least 0.3% phospholipids, and (iv) at least 0.5% DHA and EPA.