Homogenization is a necessary method for researchers across industries. From developing pharmaceutical drugs to accessing precious intracellular contents, the equipment used can be very telling about the quality of a product. However, you will find that there are numerous homogenizers and manufacturers to select from.
- Particle Size Reduction
Most high-pressure homogenizers function to reduce particle size, yet few can achieve the small sizes for optimal product function. Some machines, such as those manufactured by Pion Inc., can achieve 0.1 μm particle sizes, whereas conventional high-pressure homogenizers achieve maximum reductions of 0.5 μm and conventional high shear mixers achieve reductions of 5 μm on average. Pion's impressive particle sizes can also be achieved in fewer passes; in some cases, 90% of sample is reduced to target size in just one pass, which improves overall efficiency and product quality.
- Lysing Capability
Regarding homogenization, one of the central uncertainties among scientists is the type of cell that can be lysed. While BEE brand high-pressure homogenizers most commonly lyse E. coli and yeast, there are certainly other cell types that have been lysed with the equipment. Regardless of the cell type you want to use, always test it first to ensure that you are achieving the intended result.
- Mechanical Forces
Multiple mechanical forces can be incorporated into a homogenizer, and should be available with the homogenizer you select. These forces allow the user to optimize a product’s quality by lengthening shelf life, improving sensorial properties, and improving biophysical properties. Commonly included are turbulence, cavitation, high shear rates, impact, and adjustable process intensity.
- Quality
High-pressure homogenizers should contain a wide array of capabilities that allow the user to customize his/her experiment. Although these are infrequent among many homogenizer brands, such capabilities are critical to optimizing the method for distinct products. For example, a customizable homogenizer would allow users to manually set their homogenizer to parallel or reverse flow or run samples as many times as needed to achieve 100% particle reduction to target size.
You can begin your search for homogenizers by comparing the laboratory homogenizers from Pion. Our products are trusted by pharmaceutical researchers and lab managers around the world for delivering an array of key benefits; these include production of nano/micro emulsions, dispersions, lipids, and suspensions. In addition, we have extensive experience in the challenges that our pharmaceutical customers face as they transition from concept, through to R&D, clinical trials, all-important FDA approval and finally, to manufacturing.
