NEWS

Report from TERMIS

Freeze drying experts BTL (Biopharma Technology Ltd) recently attended the TERMIS 2010 meeting in Galway, Ireland. Freeze drying is commonly used in various regenerative medicine fields and many delegates expressed an interest in understanding the technology and benefits of this process.

Freeze drying is commonly used to stabilise products which would otherwise quickly degrade and is widespread in higher-value industries such as pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, offering benefits in storage and reduction of cold-chain costs. The ability to avoid high temperatures makes it ideal for preservation of sensitive tissues and biological products. In addition the unique set of controls provided by freeze drying enables pore size to be closely determined, which has applications for tissue scaffolds.

Successful, repeatable freeze drying relies on the correct balance of temperature and vacuum during the drying cycle. This requires detailed knowledge of the product’s thermal characteristics and information on its behaviour throughout the freeze drying process. Using freeze drying specific analytical instruments and a wealth of experience BTL is able to quickly characterize products for safe and repeatable freeze drying processes.

BTL has freeze dried over 600 different products including tissues, cells, growth factors, collagens and other scaffolds. Our extensive expertise and specialist analytical equipment is utilized by customers worldwide to design or improve their freeze drying processes.

Current research projects include:

• Extending the shelf life of Human Red Blood Cells, a feasibility study founded by the UK’s Technology Strategy Board
• Client process development for drying growth factors, collagens and surface modification of bioscaffolds
• Equipment specification for freeze drying growth factors, collagens and biomaterials

An “Introduction to Freeze Drying” booklet produced by BTL was gratefully accepted by many at TERMIS, enabling researchers to gain some valuable insight in how to improve the efficiency of their freeze drying and achieve greater consistency in results. Free copies are available on request - just complete our online request form.