Cell Lysis via High-Pressure Solvent Spraying and Decompression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for cell disruption and extraction of intracellular substances face challenges such as heat damage from mechanical methods, inefficiency in decompression, and low solubility in supercritical fluids, leading to incomplete extraction and residue issues.
Innovation Solution
A method combining pressurization, spraying, and decompression using high-pressure solvents like CO2 or hydrocarbons, followed by selective extraction and separation, allowing simultaneous cell disruption and dissolution of valuable substances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If mechanical cell disruption methods (homogenization, ball mill, pressing) are used, then cell disruption efficiency is improved, but heat is generated due to friction leading to temperature increase that damages extracted ingredients
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical cell disruption methods with a decompression-based method. Instead of using mechanical force (homogenization, ball milling, pressing), the invention uses pressure reduction to cause dissolved gas to bubble out inside cells, creating internal pressure that ruptures cell membranes. This substitutes mechanical action with a physical decompression process, eliminating friction-generated heat while maintaining effective cell disruption.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes the phase transition of gas dissolution and bubble formation. Gas is dissolved in cells under high pressure, then upon sudden decompression, the gas comes out of solution forming bubbles inside cells. This phase change from dissolved state to gaseous bubbles creates internal mechanical stress that disrupts cells without external heat generation, solving the heat damage problem.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If decompression method is used for cell disruption, then heat damage is avoided, but only cells that are relatively easy to break open can be disrupted effectively, necessitating additional non-mechanical disruption methods
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs parameter changes by adjusting pressure conditions to enhance decompression effectiveness. By using high initial pressure followed by sudden decompression, the method creates sufficient internal gas bubble pressure to disrupt even resistant cell walls. The pressure parameters are optimized to ensure complete cell disruption across different cell types without requiring additional mechanical methods, thereby maintaining productivity while avoiding heat damage.
3Quantity of substance
If supercritical fluids are used for extraction, then solubility of poorly soluble substances is increased, but solubility of extracted substances in supercritical solvents remains extremely low requiring precipitation methods
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces water as an intermediary substance in the extraction process. Instead of relying solely on supercritical CO2 or hydrocarbon solvents for protein and nucleic acid extraction, the method uses water-based extraction where these biomolecules naturally dissolve. The supercritical fluid then extracts other components, and the water-soluble biomolecules remain in the aqueous phase, eliminating the solubility problem without requiring precipitation steps.
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 enhances yield and purity of extracted substances by ensuring gentle disruption and high-pressure dissolution, improving the efficiency of cell extraction processes.
Implementation Method 1
the solution mixture is at least one nozzle under a pressure of 100-2500 bar and a temperature of 10-90 ° C in a container that has a lower pressure has, sprayed
Implementation Method 2
the dissolved gas cannot escape quickly enough and bubbles out inside the cells in the form of gas bubbles that become larger
Implementation Method 3
The suspension of biogenic starting material is brought to a pressure of 100-2500 bar by means of a pressure-increasing device
Implementation Method 4
The solvent is then combined with a suspension of the cell material to saturate the cells with the solvent under the conditions listed
Implementation Method 5
gas then flows through the cell extract in an extraction stage and the gas loaded with cellular valuable substances is separated from the cellular valuable substances in a separation stage with pressure reduction
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to a cell lysis method for biogenic, suspended starting materials by way of a combination of pressure exertion, spraying and decompression and subsequent selective extraction and separation of valuable cellular materials. At least one storage container is used to provide therein a suspension of a biogenic starting material and at least one further storage container is used to provide a solvent therein. A cell extract is produced in a cell lysis unit and a gas is led through the cell extract in an extraction stage and the gas loaded with the valuable cellular materials is separated from the valuable cellular materials in a separation stage while reducing the pressure. The biogenic starting material suspension is brought to a pressure of 100 to 2500 bar by means of a device for increasing the pressure. The solvent is brought to a pressure of 100 to 2500 bar by means of a device for increasing the pressure. The solvent and the suspension are combined in a conduit under a pressure of 100 to 2500 bar and are mixed to give a solvent mixture. The solvent mixture is sprayed into a container via at least one nozzle which is at a pressure of 100 to 2500 bar and a temperature of 10 to 90°C, said container having a lower pressure.