Pilot scale or bench top?

Published: 18-Aug-2015

How to choose the best research freeze dryer

Common applications of freeze drying include stabilisation of pharmaceutical drugs and diagnostic materials, improving the shelf life of foods and ingredients, and creating a porous structure in collagens and tissues. In the laboratory there are two main types of freeze dryer, and which is suited for your requirements will depend on your application.

Laboratory freeze dryers

Laboratory freeze dryers are designed to be flexible and user-friendly in as small a footprint as possible. Laboratory freeze dryers can be roughly grouped together into two categories:

  • Basic manifold systems, for preliminary research, such as the SP Scientific BTPro;
  • Advanced research and development systems with more sophisticated control and feedback, such as the SP Scientific AdVantage.

Manifold freeze dryers (aka 'Christmas trees')

Manifold freeze dryers are common in universities and research institutes because of their flexibility, small size, and cost-effectiveness

Manifold freeze dryers are common in universities and research institutes because of their flexibility, small size, and cost-effectiveness

Typical manifold freeze dryers, such as the SP Scientific BT Pro and Freezemobile series, consist of a base unit containing the condenser and a choice of external manifold. Manifolds with external ports are often referred to as 'Christmas trees' because of all the flasks and ampoules hanging from them. They are common in universities and research institutes because of their flexibility, small size, and cost-effectiveness. They are ideal for those seeking to apply routine freeze drying in their general research and allow a degree of control over the freeze drying process by controlling the vacuum. They can also be used for protocol development work.

Manifold freeze dryers can be floor standing, such as the Freezemobile, with larger condenser capacities. However the most common are the benchtop models which have a small footprint, are easy to operate and inexpensive.

R&D freeze dryers are available in benchtop models and floor-standing models

R&D freeze dryers are available in benchtop models and floor-standing models

R&D freeze dryers

To progress product and process development, the freeze drying shelves need to be precisely temperature-controllable to both positive and negative temperatures. This means the control systems also have to be more sophisticated, with multi-step programming and the ability to store multiple cycles for different products or different experiments. Product temperature probes and computer workstation software enables the cycles to be monitored and analysed in detail.

Pilot scale or bench top?

The latest advances in freeze drying technology, such as SMART process development automation and ControLyo controlled-nucleation technology, can be fitted to freeze dryers in this class.

R&D freeze dryers are commonly found in a wide range of facilities including universities, pharmaceutical and biotech R&D labs, government institutes, specials manufacturers and healthcare providers.

 

How Biopharma can help

We have helped customers in industry, academia, government, CROs and CMOs get the right system for their requirement. We also support all the systems we supply with technical services such as installation, maintenance and validation. We can also provide product characterisation and process development services and training.

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