Why, What And How? Understanding The Freeze Drying Process

Freeze drying, also known as ‘lyophilisation’ is a method of processing a liquid product into a dry solid product.

With freeze-drying, heat-sensitive drugs and biologicals can be dried at low temperatures. The avoidance of high temperatures helps to reduce the extent of decomposition or loss of activity in biological products, and can also circumvent the alteration of taste and sensory qualities in foods. Freeze-dried products have a very high surface area, which enables them to be reconstituted quickly and easily with the re-introduction of the solvent (usually water). This is particularly valuable in the case of emergency vaccines and antibodies, which need to be solubilised and administered as quickly as possible.