Abstract

A process for freeze drying a material. The process has the steps of (a) placing material to be freeze-dried in a vessel, the vessel comprising a container having a base, and at least one wall defining an opening at one end; (b) applying a membrane to the at least one wall to thereby cover the opening, wherein the membrane comprises an aperture which, in use, is aligned with the opening; and (c) subjecting the vessel to a lyophilisation procedure, wherein the membrane is in place on the container during the lyophilisation procedure.

IPC Classes  ?

• B01L 3/00 - Containers or dishes for laboratory use, e.g. laboratory glasswareDroppers
• F26B 5/06 - Drying solid materials or objects by processes not involving the application of heat by evaporation or sublimation of moisture under reduced pressure, e.g. in a vacuum the process involving freezing
• F26B 25/06 - Chambers, containers, or receptacles
• F26B 25/08 - Parts thereof
• A61K 9/19 - Particulate form, e.g. powders lyophilised

Abstract

The invention relates to the use of a polysaccharide having at least four saccharide units, such as stachyose,as a glass-forming agent for the freeze-drying of a reaction mixture comprising an enzyme. In particular, the enzyme is a polymerase useful in a nucleic acid amplification reaction such as a Polymerase Chain Reaction. Compositions comprising such polysaccharides as well as methods for preparing them, kits containing them and methods for using them form further aspects of the invention.

IPC Classes  ?

• A61K 47/26 - Carbohydrates, e.g. sugar alcohols, amino sugars, nucleic acids, mono-, di- or oligo-saccharidesDerivatives thereof, e.g. polysorbates, sorbitan fatty acid esters or glycyrrhizin
• A61K 9/19 - Particulate form, e.g. powders lyophilised
• F26B 5/06 - Drying solid materials or objects by processes not involving the application of heat by evaporation or sublimation of moisture under reduced pressure, e.g. in a vacuum the process involving freezing
• C12N 9/12 - Transferases (2.) transferring phosphorus containing groups, e.g. kinases (2.7)

Abstract

Novel Consumable The use of a vessel comprising a thermally conducting plastic in a freeze drying procedure is described and claimed. The plastic vessel is suitably shaped to be used in a conventional manner in the life sciences area, but is adapted to be sustainable in a freeze-dryer or lyophilisation chamber.

IPC Classes  ?

• B01L 3/00 - Containers or dishes for laboratory use, e.g. laboratory glasswareDroppers
• A01N 1/02 - Preservation of living parts
• F26B 5/06 - Drying solid materials or objects by processes not involving the application of heat by evaporation or sublimation of moisture under reduced pressure, e.g. in a vacuum the process involving freezing