Cell disruption and lysis technologies play a vital role in life science research, biopharmaceutical development, and industrial production. They are key steps in obtaining intracellular bioactive substances (such as proteins, nucleic acids, and enzymes). Ultrasonic cell disruption and lysis technology, due to its high efficiency, rapidity, and ease of use, has become one of the most widely used methods.
The core principle of ultrasonic cell disruption and lysis is the cavitation effect of ultrasound. When ultrasound propagates through a liquid medium, it creates a series of compressed and rarefied regions. In sparse areas, the internal pressure of the liquid decreases, forming numerous tiny bubbles. In compressed areas, the pressure suddenly increases, causing these cavitation bubbles to collapse and close rapidly, instantly generating extremely high temperatures (and pressures), accompanied by intense shock waves and microjets. This intense physical action effectively disrupts the structure of cell membranes and cell walls, releasing intracellular substances into the surrounding medium, thereby disrupting and lysing the cells.
Compared to other cell disruption methods (such as high-pressure homogenization and grinding), ultrasonic cell disruption and lysis offers significant advantages. It requires relatively little sample volume, making it particularly suitable for processing trace samples. It also features a simple operation, eliminating the need for complex equipment commissioning and maintenance. It also boasts high disruption efficiency, enabling the disruption of large numbers of cells in a short period of time. It also minimizes damage to bioactive substances, helping to maintain the activity and integrity of the target substances.
In practical applications, the effectiveness of ultrasonic cell disruption and lysis technology is influenced by multiple parameters. Ultrasonic power is a key parameter. Too low power results in low disruption efficiency and incomplete cell disruption. Too high power can lead to denaturation and inactivation of bioactive substances and a sharp increase in sample temperature, affecting subsequent experiments or production. Therefore, it is important to select an appropriate power based on the cell type and sample characteristics. Treatment time is also a key factor. Generally speaking, extending the treatment time appropriately can increase the cell disruption rate, but excessive treatment time can also damage the target substances, so the optimal treatment time must be determined experimentally. Furthermore, factors such as sample temperature, cell concentration, and medium pH also affect the disruption effect and need to be controlled during operation.
Ultrasonic cell disruption and lysis technology has a wide range of applications. In life science research, it is used to extract proteins from cells. Deoxyribonucleic acid, RNA, and proteins provide experimental materials for research such as gene cloning and proteomic analysis. In the biopharmaceutical field, they can be used to prepare biological products such as vaccines and antibodies. In the food industry, they can disrupt cells to release nutrients, improving the nutritional value and taste of food. In environmental monitoring, they can be used to analyze microbial cells in water to understand the types and abundance of microorganisms in the environment.
When performing ultrasonic cell disruption and lysis, certain precautions must be taken to ensure experimental safety and effectiveness. First, operators should wear appropriate protective equipment, such as goggles and gloves, to prevent harm from ultrasonic waves. Second, to prevent the sample from overheating, the ultrasonic wave should be placed in a cool, dry place. It is often necessary to place the sample in an ice bath for processing, or to use intermittent ultrasonication, where ultrasonication is interrupted for a short period to allow the sample temperature to cool. Furthermore, the appropriate ultrasonic probe and processing parameters should be selected based on the cell type and characteristics. For cells with thicker cell walls (such as plant and fungal cells), pretreatment may be necessary before ultrasonic disruption to improve disruption efficiency.
Ultrasonic cell disruption and lysis technology, as an efficient and convenient cell disruption method, plays an important role in scientific research and industry. With the continuous development and improvement of this technology, its application will become even more extensive, providing strong support for the development of life science research and the biopharmaceutical industry.
