Formulations of drugs and particularly sensitive compounds such as proteins, enzymes and vaccines need special attention on the method of drying that will be employed. Pharmaceutical industries have a dilemma where they have to decide between the conventional drying options and the newer advanced freeze-drying option. This journal explains the variations between these techniques and how well suited each one of them is in the preservation of highly controversial pharmaceutical materials. Moreover, we shall indicate the part played by the pill press machine suppliers and the complementary role played by their machines to the freeze-drying process. The subject of drying technologies is worth exploring, and we should all get to know the effect of the drying technologies on the quality of pharmaceutical products.
Knowing Freeze Drying and Traditional Methods of DryingStill Free and Traditional Drying
Lyophilization, also referred to as in freeze drying, is one of the most advanced technologies in preserving sensitive pharmaceutical products. It is used by cooling the material and then decreasing the pressure around it to enable the frozen water to sublimate, because of the conversion of the solid to the gas state. Low temperatures are not involved in this method and thus any sensitive compounds are not actually affected. Conversely, the conventional methods of drying such as hot air drying, spray drying, and vacuum drying usually involve the high temperatures in order to create moisture-free circumstances. Although these methods can be time and cost efficient, they can compromise the quality of materials that easily get damaged by heat. The manufacturers of freeze dryers make special equipment that keeps in mind that temperature-sensitive substances can be maintained during drying at stable temperature and active conditions. Comparatively, the traditional method tends to lead to loss of biological activity and potency in case it deals with complex molecules in the pharmaceutical field.
Advantages of Freeze Drying Sensitive Pharmaceutical Materials
Sensitive pharmaceutical products can be freeze-dried with a lot of advantages. Among the key benefits, the maintenance of biological activity is to be cited. The freeze-drying process does not promote the use of heat, and in this way, proteins, enzymes and other sensitive molecules are preserved with their functions and efficiency. This accounts to its exceptional use in the pharmaceutical sector where remedial effectiveness of drugs may be impaired in the event that drying is completed through heat. They also live longer because of low moisture content and hence freeze-dried food products are less likely to develop bacteria and lose their quality. Freeze-drying should always be considered the best option in case of products such as vaccines, biologics, and nutraceuticals because it helps to keep the active ingredients intact. Also, the freeze-drying technique is already standardized and could be scaled to small-scale processes within research laboratories or large volumes of products in commercial facilities, which makes it very flexible to pharmaceutical producers.
Benefits and Limitations of Traditional Methods of Drying
Although the use of freeze-drying can be a great solution in most pharmaceutical procedures; the traditional ways of drying are not yet obsolete in the pharmaceutical industry. An example of the most common drying techniques in the manufacturing industry is hot air drying; it is easy and cheap to produce. It should be pointed out, though, that the latter approach can expose materials to very high temperatures, capable of reducing the quality of heat-sensitive substances. Another conventional method that yields a quick drying is spray drying which is mostly applied to make a powder out of a liquid. Although it is efficient in the production of solid materials of drugs, it is not appropriate in other types of drugs that contain sensitive pharmaceuticals. In contrast to this, the aim of vacuum drying involves the usage of lower pressure to eliminate moisture but this procedure might not effectively maintain the stability and biological performance of some drugs. Thus, each approach to drying must be considered in such aspects as the advantages and disadvantages to the accomplishment of this procedure in case of the sensitive pharmaceutical material.
Panacea of Freeze-Drying to Pharmaceutical Equipment
Freeze-drying technology is quite compatible with others in pharmaceutical services especially in the matter of tablet manufacturing. An example is the fact that the companies which supply pills pressing machines usually collaborate with freeze-drying companies to produce tablets containing active ingredients which are freeze-dried. The mixture of the two technologies, makes sure that the delicate compounds are preserved and the delivery of the intakes is effective in a stable form. Freeze-drying makes use of ingredients that are handled gently and the pill presses make uniform pills which can be easily administered and consumed. The freeze-dried product is blended adequately in the tablet profile such that the end product meets the expected standard in terms of stability and activity. The drying process as well as the ultimate tablet formulation must be maintained under very close control over the active ingredients of such things as making biologics and specialty pharmaceuticals.
Conclusion
It can largely be said that the option of whether to use either freeze drying or conventional drying processes strongly relates to the needs of the pharmaceutical product under production. In the case of heat-sensitive products like proteins, vaccines, and biologics, freeze-drying is the most preferable. It provides purity and efficacy of sensitive compounds through production without exposure to heat, and some added value in shelf stability. Conventional drying processes are cheap and suitable for less fragile materials but they do not necessarily preserve sensitive ingredients. During pharmaceutical equipment investment, one should be aware of the nature of the material to be processed, shelf life expected and the stability of the end product being manufactured.
The company SED pharma is a freeze dryer manufacturer who provides freeze-drying equipment to the individual needs of pharmaceutical manufacturers. Through proper selection of their equipment (be it freeze drying or not), the pharmaceutical companies will also be able to ensure that their products remain well preserved in terms of quality and efficacy, to guarantee the preservation of their products in the freeze dryers. This eventually leads to success of the pharmaceutical companies in the gigantic and competitive global market.
