Grass Pollen Extract Purification via Ultrafiltration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Grass pollen extracts exhibit genotoxic potential due to the presence of flavonoid glycosides, which are deglycosylated into genotoxic flavonoid aglycones, posing a risk in in vitro tests, and existing methods to remove these compounds are either ineffective or detrimental to the allergens.
Innovation Solution
An optimized ultrafiltration method using ammonium bicarbonate solution and increased volumes of water is employed to reduce the levels of flavonoid glycosides in grass pollen extracts, effectively removing them below detectable limits without affecting the allergens.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional ultrafiltration methods are used to prepare grass pollen extracts, then the extraction process is simple and quick, but flavonoid glycosides are not effectively removed, resulting in genotoxic products
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing acidification of the pollen extract before ultrafiltration. This pre-treatment step modifies the flavonoid glycosides to make them more susceptible to removal during the subsequent ultrafiltration process, thereby improving removal efficiency without significantly extending the overall processing time
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter changes by adjusting the pH of the extract to acidic conditions (pH 2-3) before ultrafiltration. This chemical parameter modification alters the properties of flavonoid glycosides, enabling their effective separation from the allergens during ultrafiltration while maintaining productivity
2Object-affected harmful factors
If acidification and dialysis are used to remove flavonoids, then genotoxicity is reduced, but the allergens are damaged or denatured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the taking out principle by using ultrafiltration to physically separate and remove flavonoid glycosides from the pollen extract. This method extracts the harmful compounds without requiring harsh chemical treatments that would damage the allergens, thereby reducing genotoxicity while preserving allergen activity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an intermediary approach by introducing a pH adjustment step that modifies the flavonoid glycosides to facilitate their removal through ultrafiltration. This intermediary chemical modification enables selective removal of harmful substances without directly exposing the allergens to denaturing conditions
3Object-affected harmful factors
If extensive ultrafiltration is performed to remove all flavonoids, then genotoxicity is eliminated, but the production cost and time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by removing flavonoid glycosides to a level sufficient to eliminate in vitro genotoxicity without requiring complete removal. The acidification-preUltrafiltration method achieves the necessary reduction in flavonoid content to meet safety requirements while avoiding the excessive processing time that would result from more extensive purification procedures
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 optimized ultrafiltration process significantly reduces the concentration of flavonoids in grass pollen extracts, eliminating the genotoxic risk and maintaining the immunogenicity and quality of the allergens, resulting in a purified product suitable for desensitization treatments with minimal genotoxicity concerns.
Implementation Method 1
An optimized ultrafiltration method using ammonium bicarbonate solution and increased volumes of water is employed to reduce the levels of flavonoid glycosides in grass pollen extracts
Implementation Method 2
An optimized ultrafiltration method using ammonium bicarbonate solution and increased volumes of water is employed to reduce the levels of flavonoid glycosides in grass pollen extracts
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to grass pollen extracts containing reduced amount of flavonoid glycosides in order to minimize the risks of genotoxicity of the grass pollen extracts. The invention also relates to a method of preparing grass pollen extracts containing reduced amount of flavonoid glycosides by ultrafiltration. Flavonoid glycosides are naturally present in grass pollen extracts and they have been identified as being responsible for the formation of flavonoid aglycones, which are genotoxic in vitro, under the influence of enzymes contained in the grass pollen extracts.