Pharmaceutical Drying Technology
University of Cambridge, Dept of Chemical Engineering
The large image in this montage shows our Virtis Advantage benchtop freeze dryer. Next to this is a photo of the a SEDS kit at bpd, Bradford. Below to the left is an image of a water sublimination front, and to the right is a pipe containing liquid carbon dioxide.

Website Contents:
Front Page   *
Introduction   *
Drying Rationale   *
Drying Technologies   *
Our Research   *
Further Information   *
Drying Rationale

Dry formulations are particularly well suited to formulating sensitive biological materials, and are required for use with modern drug delivery technologies.

Destructive enzymes, and chemical species are rendered immobile and harmless, by being fixed in the solid state following drying. Freeze drying, in particular is less damaging to labile bioproducts than other drying methods as it is performed at lower temperatures, also, processing in the absence of oxygen prevents oxidative reactions.

Preservation

Drying results increased shelf life, and a tremendous reduction in weight and volume. Further details of the effect of drying on product preservation can be found by clicking, more...


Inhalable Drugs

Dry particle formulations, such as those produced by spray drying, and SEDS, are required for emerging technologies which enable the delivery of drugs via the lungs, further details can be obtained by clicking, more...

Transdermal Delivery
Delivering drugs directly through the skin is particularly suitable for DNA vaccines, more...

The use of non-oral and needle free routes of drug administration is currently frequently constrained by formulation requirements.

The powderject device, hand held, portable, about the size and shape of an electric razor.The diagram to the right shows a powderject[LINK] powder injection device. Dry powder is propelled by a pressurised gas cylinder through the skin.


© Richard Taylor & Suling Zhai
Department of Chemical Engineering
University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3RA, UK