Antibiotics, Cytostatics and Ibuprofen

The freeze drying of antibiotics and blood serum have largely represented the beginning of industrial lyophilization. Neumann [3.34] wrote in 1952 The (freeze drying) temperature for the older, not well purified Penicillin preparations had to be kept surprisingly low. It could not exceed -25 °C or -40 °C and later on Today Peniciilin is manufactured as crystals without the need of freeze drying . 

Other antibiotics still require freeze drying, e. g. Na-Cephalotin (Na-CET). Takeda [ 1.32] showed, that thermal treatment of Na-CET was not sufficient to produce pure crystalline Na-CET, as the amorphous fraction discolors during storage and must be avoided. Takeda described the production of pure crystalline Na-CET by adding microcrystals of Na-CET to a saturated solution of Na-CET. If this mixture was frozen and freeze dried, then no amorphous or quasi-crystalline were found. Koyama et al. [3.35] described, that after thermal treatment for 24 h some parts remained incompletely crystallized. After adding 5 % (w/w) isopropylalcohol, a thermal treatment of 1 h was sufficient. Furthermore, the product could be dried at a higher pressure. Thus the drying time could be reduced and 100 % of the product could be used. 

---