Detergents break the lipid barrier surrounding cells by solubilizing proteins and disrupting lipid-lipid, protein-protein, and protein-lipid interactions. In addition to sample handling problems, some physical disruption methods require equipment, such as the French press and sonicator.ĭetergent- or solution-based cell lysis is a milder and easier alternative to physical disruption of cell membranes, although it is often used in conjunction with homogenization and mechanical grinding when preparing protein samples from tissues to achieve complete cell disruption. Furthermore, cells disrupt at different times, so the viscosity of the medium constantly changes and released subcellular components are subjected to disruptive forces. Reproducibility with homogenization and grinding methods can be challenging due to inexact terminology used to define sample handling. To avoid this problem, it is essential to pre-chill equipment and keep samples on ice at all times. Localized heating within a sample can occur with many of the techniques described, leading to protein denaturation and aggregation. Although physical methods have traditionally been used to disrupt cells, there are some inherent disadvantages to their use.

In physical disruption methods, the cell membrane is physically broken down by shear or external forces to release cellular components.

Small bead viscosity test