The biotechnology industry is a booming field, manufacturing products that serve a range of uses in today’s society. These applications include, but are not limited to, antibiotics, protein therapies, and vaccine development. Powerful mixing techniques are required for most of these products, the most common type being homogenization. In this edition, we have compiled a few of the most common and important uses for homogenizers specific to the biotechnology industry.
- Effective Cell Rupture
Researchers in the biotechnology industry have significant use for intracellular components like enzymes and proteins. Bacteria, yeast/fungi, algae, and mammalian cells contain these substances in high concentrations, and they can be accessed through cell rupture. High pressure homogenization is an ideal cell rupture method, as it uses pressure instead of solvents, heat, or other chemicals, which maximizes product yield.
- Enhanced Particle Size Reduction
Although there are many particle reduction options in terms of type of equipment and brand, a high-pressure homogenizer is an optimal equipment selection. Homogenization provides consistent and uniform output, which speaks directly to a product’s performance. It is also impressively cost-efficient as compared with other particle size reduction methods. Not only does homogenization require fewer passes to achieve the same product, which minimizes processing time and uses fewer reagents, but it is also easy to clean and reusable. Finally, the scalability from laboratory experiment to manufacturing is easily done when you purchase your homogenizer equipment from a quality company.
- Nanoparticle Production
Nanoparticles are critical to applications such as tissue engineering, fluorescent biological labels, and gene delivery. High pressure homogenizers offer specific benefits that enhance the quality of the produced nanoparticles. Firstly, homogenization combines both pressure and mechanical forces to achieve a uniform and consistent product. Mechanical forces including cavitation, impact, process intensity, shear, and turbulence can be easily adjusted to optimize product results. And secondly, many homogenizers offer both hot and cold options. Hot homogenization uses heat above the lipid melting point to obtain an aqueous phase, while cold homogenization, developed to overcome the drawbacks of using heat, is conducted with solid lipids. Each method is preferable to different circumstances.Additionally, as mentioned above, nanoparticles are typically higher functioning when comprised of small particles; this is an easy feat for most homogenizers.
Pion: The BEE Homogenizer Advantage
The search for equipment to support your biotechnology-related product should begin with a consideration of how the above-listed factors will improve the product’s quality. Although many companies manufacture homogenizers, few are of the high quality needed to achieve reliable and reproducible results. Importantly, even fewer are customizable to a product’s specific needs. One example of equipment that does meet such expectations is the high-pressure BEE homogenizer from Pion.
Our homogenizer products are trusted by researchers and lab managers around the world for key benefits, such as production of nano/micro emulsions, dispersions, and suspensions. Importantly, this equipment can lyse a variety of cell types while preserving crucial intracellular contents through customizable machinery. Additionally, it can achieve consistent particle sizes at or below 100 nm, a crucial factor for researchers & corporations in the biotechnology industry.
