Hormones
Hormones are chemical messengers which have a regulating effect on the metabolism and organ activity. In collaboration with the nervous system, they coordinate all bodily functions. A complicated control mechanism ensures a harmonic interaction of the bodily functions. The separation technology of GEA Westfalia Separator plays an important part in the production of hormones, e. g. insulin.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a metabolic disorder. Diabetics can no longer adequately utilize glucose, which is conveyed by the blood to all cells of the body. The hormone insulin has a key function in this. Amongst other functions, it operates as a “door opener” for glucose molecules when they enter cells. Around 150 million people worldwide now suffer from this metabolic disorder. They must inject supplementary insulin daily to prevent serious cardiovascular or renal diseases.
In the service of human medicine
Separators from GEA Westfalia Separator play an important part in the production process. Nozzle separators operate in the depicted process, in which the solid material is extracted continuously in a constant concentration. The biosynthetic production of human insulin is conducted by bacteria or yeasts. After fermentation, or the conversion of the chemical raw materials by the microorganisms, the biomass is extracted by a nozzle separator. In further stages, the active ingredient is washed and concentrated. GEA Westfalia Separator machines are also employed in the succeeding crystallization stages, for example Westfalia Separator hycon, chamber separators and self-cleaning separators.
Production of hormones using insulin as an example
Process line for hormones
