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Cell Rupture: Detergents vs Traditional Physical Methods

Detergents (or surfactants) are used in cell lysis solutions because they disrupt the distinct interface between hydrophobic and hydrophilic systems. They help to solubilize membrane proteins and lipids, thereby causing the cell to lyse and release its contents. Detergents are comprised of a polar hydrophilic head group and a nonpolar hydrophobic tail. They are categorized by the nature of the head group as either ionic, nonionic or zwitterionic.
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Why Scalability Matters for Particle Size Reduction Equipment

Process manufacturing is the branch of manufacturing associated with ingredients or raw materials, formulas, and manufacturing recipes. This kind of manufacturing is common in the food, beverage, chemical, pharmaceutical, consumer packaged goods, and biotechnology industries. Scalability is a crucial element in process manufacturing, as production processes must be proportionally adjustable to adapt to production needs.
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Types of Emulsifiers & How High Pressure Homogenization Creates Stable Emulsions

An emulsifier (or an emulgent) is a substance that essentially helps in the formation and stabilization of an emulsion. Emulsifiers are surface-active agents that act as the interface between the two immiscible liquids, like oil and water. Emulsifier molecules have a hydrophilic end that forms chemical bonds with water but not with oils; and a hydrophobic end that forms chemical bonds with oils but not with water.
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How Homogenization Benefits Emulsions in the Food Industry

An emulsion is a mixture of two immiscible liquids (like oil and water), where small droplets of one liquid are dispersed throughout the second liquid. Emulsions can be classified as follows: Oil in water emulsion – where oil droplets are dispersed in the water phase e.g. homogenized milk or a “creamy” style salad dressing. Water in oil emulsion – where water droplets are dispersed in an oil phase e.g. margarine.
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French Press Cell Lysis: How Does It Compare to Homogenization?

The French pressure cell press, or French press, is a piece of equipment used in laboratories to disrupt cell walls and cell membranes. The French press consists of a hydraulic pump that drives a piston. The piston forces the liquid sample through a tiny valve under high pressure. As the sample passes through the valve, the cells experience shear stress, resulting in cellular disruption.
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5 Reasons Why You Need a High Pressure Homogenizer in Your Biotech Research Laboratory

Biotechnology is healing, fueling and feeding the world. Groundbreaking innovations in the fields of medicine, energy and food production are changing the way that we live. In the laboratory, biotechnology harnesses cellular and biomolecular processes to develop technologies and products that help improve our lives and the health of our planet. DeBEE Laboratory High Pressure Homogenizers are ideal for rupturing a variety of different cell types, including E. coli, yeast, mammalian tissue, bacteria...
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Cell Lysis Techniques: Why Homogenization Excels

Cell lysis (or cell disruption) is the rupture of the cell membrane resulting in the release of cell contents, and the subsequent death of the cell. The fluid containing the contents of lysed cells is called a lysate. Cell lysis is used in laboratories to separate the intracellular contents, e.g. in DNA or RNA extraction. Cell lysis is also a key component in protein purification. Protein purification involves a series of processes to isolate one or a few proteins from the rest of the lysate.
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Particle Size Reduction Methods: Which Is Best?

Particle size reduction is a crucial initial step in the production of countless end products across all manufacturing industries. Think of wheat that needs to be ground in the production of flour, or rocks and rubble that must be crushed in order to make sand, and pharmaceutical ingredients that need to be finely milled for incorporation into drugs. There are many available particle size reduction methods. Your method of choice needs to be best suited to the properties of your feedstock or raw...
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Cell Lysis Sonication: Better Than Homogenization?

Sonication uses pulsed, high frequency sound waves to lyse cells. There are two kinds of commonly used sonication techniques: Both direct and indirect sonication are able to lyse cells through cavitation. This phenomenon occurs when a rapid pressure change causes “liquid-free zones” or cavities in a liquid. As these cavities collapse, shock waves are generated throughout the liquid, which causes the cells to rupture. One disadvantage of cell lysis sonication is the generation of heat.
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Particle Grinding vs High Pressure Homogenizing in the Pharmaceutical Industry

A 2013 article by Sushant et al. published in the International Research Journal of Pharmacy lays out the objectives of particle size reduction in pharmaceutics. Below, we have summarized the benefits of particle size reduction in drug manufacturing: An increased surface area is more cost effective for manufacturers. Drugs will have increased absorption and therapeutic effectiveness because as particle size decreases, the absorption rate increases. Narrow size range distribution means solids and powders are easier to mix effectively.
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How High Pressure Homogenizers Benefit Dispersions

Dispersions occur when particles of one (solid) substance are scattered throughout another (liquid) substance. The solid particles are sometimes referred to as agglomerates or aggregates. Dispersions can be further categorized into solutions (homogeneous mixtures) or suspensions (heterogeneous mixtures). A colloid is a third type of dispersion that is somewhere in between a solution and a suspension. The IUPAC definition of a colloidal dispersion...
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How Does a High Pressure Homogenizer Work for Optimal Cell Lysis & Particle Size Reduction?

High pressure homogenization is a mechanical process that works to reduce particle size or to lyse cells. Essentially, a liquid is forced at high pressure through a very narrow nozzle. The higher the amount of energy applied during the homogenization process, the smaller the particle size or the more complete the cell lysis. Below, we’ll discuss the forces used to apply this energy; as well as the differences that set DeBEE high pressure homogenizers apart from the competition.
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Chemical Methods of Cell Disruption

Cell disruption, or cell lysis, is achieved when the cell wall or membrane is ruptured, releasing the contents of the cell. Cell disruption is the first step in many biotechnology applications. This sensitive process needs to be controlled as much as possible; and choosing the correct cell lysis method is essential for preserving the desired intracellular contents. Cell disruption can be achieved in several ways, including mechanical, enzymatic or chemical lysis.
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Hammer Mills vs. High Pressure Homogenizers for Particle Size Reduction

A hammer mill is a machine designed to crush material into smaller pieces by way of repeated blows from small hammers. Hammer mills work on the principle that most materials will crush, grind, shatter or pulverize upon impact. Material is fed into the mill grinding chamber through the feed chute. The material is repeatedly struck by hammers which are attached to a rotating shaft inside the mill chamber.
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Dounce Homogenization vs. High Pressure Homogenization

Invented by Alexander Dounce, a Dounce Homogenizer (also known as a tissue grinder or a “Douncer”) is a small, handheld mortar and pestle made of glass. It lyses tissue and cells using shear stress as the sample is squeezed through the small space between the mortar (or tube) and pestle. See an example of a Dounce Homogenizer here. The sample is placed into the tube and the pestle is then pressed down and lifted up repeatedly.
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7 Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Homogenizer

“Particle size reduction, cell lysis, high pressure pasteurization, emulsions, dispersions” – these are our application buzzwords here at BEE International. We utilize all available mechanical forces (turbulence, shear, impact, cavitation and process intensity) to achieve optimum results for a variety of applications & products. If you’re in the market for a homogenizer, DeBEE high pressure homogenizers are the logical choice. BEE International offers extensive application support, whether you
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Particle Size Reduction 101: Homogenization, Dispersions & Emulsions

The term “particle size reduction” means exactly that - the process of reducing average particle size in a given substance. Homogenization is one kind of particle size reduction. It is a process that uses mechanical force to break down particles or droplets in a liquid into smaller and more uniform sizes. The result of homogenization is a dispersion, where fine particles of one substance are scattered throughout another substance. Particle size reduction through homogenization has countless ap
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