Pulse Combustion Drying for Bacteriophage Viability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional drying methods for bacteriophage, such as lyophilization and conventional spray drying, often result in significant reductions in viability and virulence of the bacteriophage particles, limiting the production of dry bacteriophage products on an industrial scale due to sensitivity to shear forces and high temperatures.
Innovation Solution
The use of pulse combustion atomization spray drying processes, which involve subjecting a bulk liquid bacteriophage solution to controlled conditions of pressure, temperature, and carrier materials like dried milk or trehalose to minimize shear forces and maintain bacteriophage integrity, allowing for the production of dry bacteriophage products with minimal loss of efficacy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional spray drying or lyophilization is used to produce dry bacteriophage products, then the bacteriophage can be dried and stored, but the viability and virulence of bacteriophage particles are significantly reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the drying parameters by using pulse combustion drying with specific temperature profiles (rapid heating to high temperature followed by rapid cooling) and controlled residence times. This parameter change allows drying while maintaining bacteriophage viability, resolving the contradiction between producing dry products and preserving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces conventional mechanical spray drying systems with pulse combustion drying technology. This substitution eliminates the harmful mechanical shear forces and prolonged exposure to moderate temperatures that damage bacteriophage, while achieving the same drying objective.
2Productivity
If conventional spray drying processes are used, then drying can be achieved, but shear forces and high temperatures kill or diminish the virulence of the vast majority of bacteriophage particles
Solution Approach 1:
The pulse combustion drying process rushes through the critical damage zone by rapidly heating to high temperature and immediately cooling, minimizing the residence time at temperatures that would damage bacteriophage. This allows efficient drying while skipping the harmful intermediate temperature exposure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses periodic pulse combustion cycles with repeated heating and cooling phases. This periodic action allows the bacteriophage to withstand the thermal stress by experiencing brief, intense heat pulses followed by rapid cooling, rather than continuous moderate heating that causes cumulative damage.
3Reliability
If bacteriophage is kept in liquid lysate form, then viability is maintained, but the product cannot be compacted or concentrated and is limited to well-behaved bacterial hosts
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the drying parameters to pulse combustion methodology, the invention enables the production of dry bacteriophage products from a broader range of bacterial hosts, not just well-behaved ones. This parameter change in the drying process removes the limitation on host range and product form options.
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
Pulse combustion drying effectively maintains the viability and virulence of bacteriophage particles, achieving a reduction of no more than one log in viable particles from liquid to dry form, compared to the significant reductions seen in conventional methods, with some cases achieving up to 100% recovery.
Implementation Method 1
subjecting a bulk liquid to pulse combustion drying
Implementation Method 2
pulse combustion atomization spray drying processes
Data Source
AI summary
Liquid bacteriophage products may be dried to form dry bacteriophage products. Drying may be effected by pulse combustion drying processes. When dried, the number of viable bacteriophage particles is reduced by no more than about two log (102). The resulting dry bacteriophage product, therefore includes at least one percent of the number of viable bacteriophage particles that were present in the original liquid bacteriophage product.