Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Mechanism of Ultrasonic Cell Disruption
3. Specific Parameters and Numerical Analysis
4. Powersonic Company Solutions
5. References

Introduction

Ultrasonic cell disruption is a widely used technique for breaking cells, releasing cellular contents, and achieving effective lysis. It is particularly popular in laboratories and industrial applications due to its efficiency and ability to handle various types of cells, including bacterial, yeast, and mammalian cells.

Mechanism of Ultrasonic Cell Disruption

Ultrasonic cell disruption operates on the principle of acoustic cavitation. This process involves the formation, growth, and implosive collapse of bubbles in a liquid medium, which generates intense localized pressure and temperature changes. When ultrasonic waves are applied to a liquid sample, alternating high-pressure and low-pressure cycles are created.

During the low-pressure cycle, small vacuum bubbles form, which grow over successive cycles. When these bubbles reach a critical size, they collapse violently during a high-pressure cycle, releasing significant energy. This energy produces shock waves and shear forces capable of breaching cell walls and membranes, leading to cell disruption and the release of intracellular contents.

Specific Parameters and Numerical Analysis

Several parameters are critical in optimizing ultrasonic cell disruption efficiency:

• Frequency: Ultrasonic waves typically operate between 20 kHz and 40 kHz, with lower frequencies generally providing more intensive cavitation effects.
• Amplitude: Higher amplitudes result in more vigorous cavitation, enhancing cell disruption potential. Typical amplitudes range from 20 to 100 microns.
• Time: Exposure time is directly proportional to the extent of disruption. Short time intervals of 1 to 3 minutes are common for bacterial cells, while more robust cells may require longer processing.
• Temperature: The process generates heat; therefore, maintaining a temperature below 30°C is crucial to prevent thermal damage to sensitive bio-molecules.

Applying a precise combination of these parameters can significantly influence the disruption efficiency, where the cavitation intensity must be tailored to the cellular type and desired outcome.

Powersonic Company Solutions

Powersonic offers advanced ultrasonic cell disruptors tailored to various application needs. Their solutions range from compact benchtop units for laboratory use to industrial-scale systems:

• Powersonic PS-60 Series: Designed for small to medium-scale applications, providing energy output of 600W with adjustable frequency capabilities ranging from 20 kHz to 30 kHz.
• Powersonic PS-150 Series: Offers higher power outputs for demanding applications, featuring 1500W maximum power with automated pulse modulation for enhanced control over disruption processes.

Each Powersonic system is equipped with digital controls for precise parameter settings and real-time monitoring, ensuring consistent and reliable operation in complex disruption tasks.

References

• Lehmann, V., and Richter, K. (2020). Ultrasound in Cell Disruption: A Comprehensive Review, Journal of Bioengineering, vol. 15, no. 4, pp. 245-262.
• Powersonic. (2023). Ultrasonic Cell Disruption Systems, Powersonic Product Catalog. Retrieved from https://www.powersonic.com/products/ultrasonic-cell-disruptors.
• Xie, Y., Zhang, B., and Chen, H. (2019). Optimization of Ultrasonic Cell Disruption Parameters for Efficient Lysis, Biotechnology Techniques, vol. 23, no. 2, pp. 98-103.