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LyoBead Production Systems

LyoBead Production Systems for Freeze Drying (BeadLab™)

Turn-Key Solutions for Lyophilized Beads

Millrock Technology offers turn-key solutions for LyoBead production that include a bead dispenser (BeadLab™), sealable tray, and freeze dryer. The combination provides all the necessary parts to quickly implement using LyoBeads.

Steps for LyoBead Production:

Bead Formation => Transfer => Freeze Drying => Storage

The BeadLab automated micro-dispensing system is used to create the beads, which are collected in the freeze drying tray. Once collected, the lid is sealed enabling non-contact transfer to the freeze dryer. The product is held in a frozen state inside the freeze dryer until the entire batch is loaded and ready for freeze drying. At the end of the freeze drying process, the trays are sealed under vacuum, isolating the product from the environment and protecting the operators from exposure. The sealed tray can be used for long term storage or for transfer to further processing.

Benefits & Advantages

What are LyoBeads?

LyoBeads are spheres of customizable lyophilized material that contain a specific volume of material, typically in the 5 microL to 20 microL range. LyoBeads are created through instant freezing of the liquid formulation in liquid nitrogen and then freeze drying. The final product is a consistent volume stable dry bead ready for long term storage that is easily reconstituted.

Types of materials that may benefit from LyoBeads

  • Diagnostic reagents
  • PCR assays
  • Bacterial vaccines
  • Buffers and chromophores
  • Enzymes, enzyme substrates, and co-factors
  • Antibodies and antibody conjugates
  • Calibrators and controls
  • Probiotics


Advantages of LyoBeads

  • Reduced setup time for assays
  • Reduced pipetting errors
  • Reduced freeze drying time
  • Long term stability at room temperature
  • Fast reconstitution


Advantages of The Vacuum Sealable Tray

  • Eliminates operator exposure
  • LN2 compatible for bead creation
  • Sealable for oxygen free transfer between BeadLab and freeze dryer
  • Sterilizable
  • Vacuum sealable post-freeze drying for long term storage


What are LyoBeads also called?

There are several other terms for LyoBeads:

  • Lyophilized beads
  • LyoSpheres
  • Lyophilized spheres
  • Lyophilized pellets
  • Diagnostic beads
  • Single assay beads
  • Lyophilized reagent beads
  • Multiplex beads
  • Master mix beads
  • Microbeads
  • PCR beads

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LyoBead Production Systems

The LyoBead Production System

BEADLAB

The liquid drops fall into an LN2 filled container where they are collected.

At the end of the bead production process, a borosilicate lid seals the tray for transport to the freeze dryer.

TRAY

An aluminum tray with anodized finish enables bead production and collection, transfer, freeze drying process, and post-freeze drying storage.

The sealable trays offer a method for isolating the operator from exposure to the product in the tray.

At the end of the freeze drying cycle, the trays are vacuum sealed to protect both the product and operator.

The trays are cleanable and sterilizable.

FREEZE DRYER

The freeze dryer is designed to accommodate LyoBead specific application requirements including pre-frozen shelves for storage of the frozen beads prior to freeze drying.