Zinc-Enriched Biomass via Microbial Accumulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing zinc delivery methods in food and dietary compositions primarily use inorganic zinc, which is less bioavailable for the human body, limiting its absorption and effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
Culturing Bifidobacterium animalis and Streptococcus thermophilus microorganisms in a zinc-enriched medium to accumulate high intracellular zinc levels, creating a zinc-enriched biomass suitable for use in probiotic, nutritional, and cosmetic products.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If inorganic zinc is used in food and dietary compositions, then zinc delivery is achieved, but bioavailability and absorption are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical form of zinc from inorganic to organic by utilizing microorganisms that accumulate zinc intracellularly. This parameter change transforms zinc into a bioavailable organic form that enhances absorption and effectiveness in the human body.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces microorganisms (Bifidobacterium animalis and Streptococcus thermophilus) as intermediaries that take up inorganic zinc from the culture medium and convert it into organic zinc forms within their cells. These microorganisms act as mediators that transform zinc into a bioavailable form.
2Quantity of substance
If microorganisms are cultured in zinc-enriched medium, then intracellular zinc accumulation is achieved, but culture medium composition and processing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the zinc concentration parameter in the culture medium to achieve optimal intracellular accumulation. By controlling the zinc parameter within specific ranges, the patent maximizes zinc uptake by microorganisms while maintaining manageable medium composition complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The microorganisms naturally accumulate zinc intracellularly through their own metabolic processes when exposed to zinc in the culture medium. This self-service mechanism allows the microorganisms to concentrate zinc without requiring external intervention or complex processing systems.
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 method achieves a high concentration of bioavailable organic zinc, enhancing zinc delivery and absorption in the body, addressing deficiencies and promoting health benefits such as improved immune response, wound healing, and hair growth.
Implementation Method 1
culturing Bifidobacterium animalis and Streptococcus thermophilus microorganisms in a zinc-enriched medium to accumulate high intracellular zinc levels
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a zinc-enriched biomass comprising living or subsequently killed micro-organisms, selected from the group consisting of Streptococcus thermophilus and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis and combinations thereof, a method for the manufacture of said zinc-enriched biomass, as well as food preparations, nutraceutic products, functional foods, cosmetic and cosmeceutic products, and food supplements, comprising the said biomass. Furthermore, new micro-organism strains are described which are able to concentrate zinc within the cell in very high amounts and therefore are particularly suitable for use in the method of the invention.