Supercritical Extraction in Proteins

Introduction to Supercritical Equipment

Supercritical extraction is a highly efficient extraction method that utilizes supercritical carbon dioxide to extract active ingredients from plants. This method can extract high-quality components at lower temperatures and pressures, avoiding the problems of thermal damage and solvent residue that may occur in traditional extraction methods.

1. Extraction of plant proteins from plants

● We can extract proteins from soybeans using supercritical fluid extraction technology. By adjusting the conditions of supercritical fluid pressure, temperature, and adding appropriate entrainers, we can effectively separate soybean protein from other components. Compared with traditional extraction methods such as alkaline solubilization and acid precipitation, it can reduce the denaturation and loss of proteins, and improve the extraction rate and quality of proteins.

● We can use supercritical fluid extraction technology to extract proteins from a variety of plant sources, including peanuts, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, bitter melon seeds, almonds, wheat germ, sesame seeds, moringa seeds, and other plant seeds or fruits. These plant proteins have different properties and application values, and supercritical extraction provides a new way for their efficient extraction.

2. Protein extraction from microorganisms

● Bacterial protein extraction: Some bacteria can produce proteins with specific functions, such as some enzymes with industrial applications.We can use supercritical extraction technology to extract these proteins from bacteria. We can extract these proteins from the bacterial fermentation solution or the mixture after cell crushing using supercritical extraction technique. For example, when extracting some bacterial enzyme proteins with poor heat resistance, the mild operating conditions of supercritical extraction can maximize the activity of the proteins. The mild operating conditions of supercritical extraction can maximize the activity of the proteins.

● Yeast Protein Extraction: Yeast is a common microorganism that is rich in proteins.We can extract proteins from yeast cells using supercritical extraction technology to provide high-quality protein raw materials for hair products, feed and other industries. We can optimize the extraction parameters to improve the extraction efficiency and purity of yeast protein.

3. Protein extraction from animal tissues

● For some proteins of animal origin, the technology also has some potential for application. For example, we can extract specific protein components from animal tissues such as blood and liver for use in medical research or the production of biological products. However, when treating animal tissues, we need to control the extraction conditions to avoid denaturation of proteins and loss of other biological activities.

4. Protein isolation and purification of supercritical extraction

● Separation of other components: In complex biological samples, proteins are often mixed with other components such as fats, polysaccharides, and nucleic acids. I can take advantage of the difference in solubility of different components in supercritical fluids to achieve the separation of proteins from other impurities. For example, when purifying proteins from animal tissues or cell extracts, supercritical extraction can remove impurities such as fat and improve the purity of proteins.

● We can use the technology to achieve graded separation of different proteins. By adjusting the operating conditions, we can select suitable supercritical extraction conditions based on the molecular weight and polarity of proteins to separate the target proteins from complex protein mixtures. This is important for the study of the structure and function of proteins and the development of specific protein products.

5. Protein drug development of supercritical extraction

●We can use the technology to extract protein-based pharmaceutical ingredients from natural medicines. Many natural medicines contain pharmacologically active protein components, and we can extract these components using the techniques.For example, the extraction of proteins with immunomodulatory and anti-tumor effects from some medicinal plants or animal tissues can provide a new source for drug research and development.

●We can use the technology to prepare carrier systems for protein drugs. For example, we can encapsulate proteins in nanoparticles or microspheres using supercritical fluids to improve the stability and bioavailability of the drug and to achieve controlled release or targeted delivery of the drug.

Compared with other techniques, supercritical extraction has the following unique advantages in protein extraction and research.

1. This minimizes damage to the structure and biological activity of the protein. In contrast, some conventional extraction methods, such as thermal extraction and organic solvent extraction, may result in high temperature or organic solvent action leading to protein denaturation and inactivation. The techniques are more favorable to maintain the natural structure and function of proteins.

2. Prevent oxidation reactions: supercritical fluids (such as supercritical carbon dioxide) has an antioxidant effect, which can reduce the oxidation of proteins during the extraction process, protect the sensitive groups in proteins, such as sulfhydryl groups, so as to maintain the biological activity of proteins.