Method of inducing nucleation of a material

摘要

Methods of inducing nucleation of a material is provided. The disclosed methods comprise the steps of bringing the material to a temperature near or below a phase transition temperature and altering the pressure to induce nucleation of the material. The disclosed methods are useful in freeze-drying processes, particularly pharmaceutical freeze-drying processes.

主权项

1. A method of inducing nucleation of freezing in a material within a chamber comprising the steps of:
bringing the material to a temperature near or below a phase transition temperature in an atmosphere within the chamber pressurized above ambient pressure; and decreasing the pressure of the atmosphere within the chamber proximate the material in 40 seconds or less or at a pressure rate drop, ΔP/Δt, greater than about 0.2 psi per second, to uniformly induce nucleation of the phase transition in the material.