LyoCapsule™ Freeze Dryer
The LyoCapsule Freeze Dryer is a lyophilization instrument that delivers results comparable to larger R&D freeze dryers enabling a Quality by Design (QbD) approach to cycle development even when materials are highly expensive or limited in quantity.
The LyoCapsule's small freeze drying chamber incorporates a unique cylindrical inner chamber, or ‘capsule,’ to hold the vials and utilizes wall temperature control to ensure that edge vials dry under the same process conditions as center vials. Employing this technology, the LyoCapsule can be used to mimic the performance of a larger development freeze dryer, utilizing small quantities of costly materials, such as developmental biological drugs and requiring far less material preparation time, while still facilitating robust and cost-effective cycle development.
The LyoCapsule may be used to reliably screen formulations for freeze drying feasibility, optimize the freeze drying cycle during development, evaluate efficient process scale-up and much more without requiring the use of large quantities of materials and undue sample preparation time. The unit can accommodate 2 mL to 20 mL vials; seven 20 mL vials can fit comfortably on the circular shelf.
Compared to other small scale R&D Freeze Dryers – SP’s LyoCapsule freeze dryer is the only system that can monitor and independently control the wall temperature via use of the center vial product temperature. Utilizing the center vial product temperature enables better control and replication of development scale center vial drying behaviour during cycle development. Additionally, vials in the LyoCapsule are in direct contact with the shelf surface aligning with the same conditions that are handled in other freeze dryers. A full suite of Process Analytical Technologies (PAT) tools further complements SP Scientific’s ‘line of sight’ scale up as the technologies are available at all freeze dryer scales right into production.
In addition, the LyoCapsule offers the user robust process monitoring tools including chamber and condenser capacitance manometers, Pirani gauge, product thermocouples, SMART Freeze Drying technology and TDLAS as an add-on option.