The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted a big situation in vaccine transportation: the storage of vaccines. Most vaccines call for cold storage till they are administered to sufferers. Even so, researchers at Purdue University are exploring a new approach of freeze-drying vaccines that is less expensive and more quickly than existing choices. Freeze-dried vaccines have been employed for more than 50 years and played a critical part in the Planet Overall health Organization’s efforts to eradicate smallpox. At Purdue, researchers strategy to use microwaves to make freeze-drying much more feasible for massive-scale production.
According to Alina Alexeenko, a Purdue researcher, vaccines can currently be freeze-dried, but the existing processes are either slow or high-priced. The team’s aim is to resolve this bottleneck and raise capacity. The microwave approach becoming created at Purdue could drastically enhance vaccine access, specifically in places that lack cold storage facilities. Freeze-dried vaccines do not call for refrigeration and can be activated by adding a liquid option when prepared for use.
Ahmad Darwish, a study associate, explained that the microwave approach has faced challenges with heating uniformity. Even so, their method has accomplished substantially enhanced uniformity and heating efficiency. The Purdue researchers are presently functioning towards bringing their technologies to the marketplace, which could have a substantial effect on vaccine distribution and accessibility.
