300K technology allows the freeze-drying and storage of various biosample types at room temperature, ranging from extracted and purified nucleic acids to more complex samples like liquid biopsies or even cell lines. Our comprehensive solution reimagines freeze-drying, making it a feasible and easy-to-implement system within laboratories and life science facilities to optimize their biosample storage space.
FREEZE-DRYING
Freeze-drying, also known as lyophilization, is based on the physical phenomenon of water or organic solvent sublimation in frozen substances. This process involves the direct transition of the frozen solvent to vapor without passing through the liquid state. Typically, when dealing with food, proteins, or biospecimens, the solvent to be removed is water. 300K has optimized this process to enhance the preservation, storage, and shipment of biological samples.
The goal of lyophilization is to produce a dry product that, when water or solvent is reintroduced, exhibits the same characteristics as the original product. Freeze-drying minimizes quality loss by preventing deterioration of the sample due to chemical reactions or enzymatic degradation.
Lyophilization offers several advantages compared to other preservation methods:
- Rapid regeneration of products.
- Preservation of the original product's shape and characteristics.
- Ideal for drying thermolabile substances.
- Protection of oxidizable constituents.
- Achieves a very low final moisture level, typically less than 5% water content.
Freeze-Drying/Lyophilization process comprises three phases:
- Freezing
- Primary Drying (Sublimation)
- Secondary Drying (Adsorption)
Freezing Phase
Freeze-drying is easiest to accomplish using large ice crystals, which can be produced by slow freezing or annealing. However, with biological materials, when crystals are too large they may break the cell walls, and that leads to less-than-ideal freeze-drying results. To prevent this, the freezing is done rapidly.
Primary Drying (Sublimation) Phase
Freeze-drying’s second phase is primary drying (sublimation), in which the pressure is lowered and heat is added to the material in order for the water to sublimate. The vacuum speeds sublimation. The cold condenser provides a surface for the water vapor to adhere and solidify. The condenser also protects the vacuum pump from the water vapor. About 95% of the water in the material is removed in this phase. Primary drying can be a slow process.
Secondary Drying (Adsorption) Phase
Freeze-drying’s final phase is secondary drying (adsorption), during which the ionically-bound water molecules are removed. Most materials can be dried to 1-5% residual moisture.
300K SOLUTIONS TECHNOLOGY
At 300K Solutions, we have achieved the stabilization of biological samples at room temperature through several patented innovations in the freeze-drying process.
Our breakthroughs, incorporated into our S3 device, ensure thermal homogeneity and chamber pressure control that sets us apart from conventional lyophilizers.
At 300K Solutions, we aim to provide a comprehensive and accessible solution for the stabilization of biological samples, ensuring that users need not worry about any aspect of the process.
- Each type of sample has a different composition, which is why we’ve developed protective lyobuffers tailored to each sample type, preserving their integrity and functionality during the drying process and subsequent storage.
- One of our most groundbreaking innovations is the design of specific freeze-drying cycles for each biospecimen type. These parameters have been meticulously studied and tested by 300K Solutions, allowing users to simply select their sample type and proceed with the stabilization, without concerns about the process.
- Once the sample is stabilized, it can be stored at room temperature with ease thanks to our high-quality vials and innovative vial cap design which provide protection against external conditions.
- Traceability is assured through data matrix codes on each vial and our rack traceability system, designed in SBS format.
