Lyofal, a leading French company in lyophilisation services applied to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry as well as cosmetic industry, is keeping up standards in R&D. The newly acquired device, a fully integrated freeze drying microscope, which enables a complementary reading when studying the determination of fundamental parameters of lyophilisation compared with the product resistance method offered (beginning of fusion and complete solidification). When lyophilising under a microscope, the measuring system used means that it is possible to observe visually, under microscope, the fusion or collapse phenomenon. The video device allows monitoring and taking pictures of key phenomenon: crystallisation, fusion, collapse.

The device is equipped with a lyophilisation chamber cooled via liquid nitrogen and heated electrically, with a vacuum pump, a microscope. This device only requires 2μl samples per analysis.

There are many advantages of freeze drying under microscope:

• Can help improve old formulations and develop new ones
• Provides essential data to develop cycles on a rational basis
• Can save valuable development time and money, with rapid determination collapse, melting and eutectic melt temperatures
• Allows image capture and data archiving for future reference
• Only 2μl of sample material is required to determine the key parameters.

This method of electric product resistance provides a whole picture of the thermodynamics phenomenon over cooling and heating of the solution, especially if it is rich in salts. The method of freeze drying under microscope means that photographs can be used to visually identify the lowest critical temperature (fusion or collapse).

Throughout the year, Lyofal participates in exhibitions such as In-Cosmetics (Booth M80C, 13-15th April 2010 in Paris) and BioPh-ICSE (Booth 4 BIO 33, 5-7th October 2010 in Paris).

Lyofal, managed by Mr Jean-Luc Allemand, President, provides a unique technical knowledge in lyophilisation services and improves its offer year after year to remain to stay on the top.