ULTRASOUND ENHANCED GROWTH OF MICROORGANISMS.

• US 20110189748A1
• Filed: 08/26/2009
• Published: 08/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hidaca Limited
• Original Assignee: IntelligentNano Inc.
• Inventors: Chen, Jie, Ang, Woon T., Xing, James
• Granted Patent: US 9,045,733 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/173.8
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 35/04 Mechanical means, e.g. sonic waves, stretching forces, pressure or shear stimuli
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 13/00 Treatment of microorganisms or enzymes with electrical or wave energy, e.g. magnetism, sonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 5/0647 Haematopoietic stem cells; Uncommitted or multipotent progenitors

Abstract

A method of increasing the rate of growth, useful product production, or protein expression of a microorganism includes the step of exposing the microorganism to ultrasound having a frequency greater than about 1 MHz.

Claims

1. A method of increasing the rate of growth, useful product production, or protein expression of a microorganism, comprising the step of exposing the microorganism to ultrasound having a frequency from about 1 MHz to about 10 MHz.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the ultrasound is pulsed.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the frequency of the ultrasound is from about 1 MHz to 2 MHz.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the frequency of the ultrasound is between about 1.4 MHz and about 1.6 MHz.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the frequency of the ultrasound is about 1.5 MHz.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the intensity of the ultrasound is from about 1 mW/cm² to about 5 W/cm².

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the intensity of the ultrasound is from about 10 mW/cm² to about 150 mW/cm².

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the cell or cell culture comprises a eukaryotic cell.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the cell or cell culture comprises a fungus.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the fungus comprises a Penicillium species or a Trichoderma species.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the ultrasound is applied in periodic intervals.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the ultrasound is applied in one or more intervals totalling less than 60 minutes in a 24 hour period.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the ultrasound is applied in a single interval of 10 or 20 minutes in a 24 hour period.

14. A method of using a feedback system in conjunction with the method of claim 1, which measures the ultrasound emission in the target site, and adjusts the emission strength to ensure optimal frequencies and intensities reach the target cells.