The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted a important situation in vaccine transportation: the storage of vaccines. Most vaccines need cold storage till they are administered to individuals. Nonetheless, researchers at Purdue University are exploring a new approach of freeze-drying vaccines that is more affordable and more rapidly than present possibilities. Freeze-dried vaccines have been applied for more than 50 years and played a important part in the Planet Overall health Organization’s efforts to eradicate smallpox. At Purdue, researchers strategy to use microwaves to make freeze-drying additional feasible for substantial-scale production.

According to Alina Alexeenko, a Purdue researcher, vaccines can currently be freeze-dried, but the present processes are either slow or high-priced. The team’s target is to resolve this bottleneck and raise capacity. The microwave approach becoming created at Purdue could considerably boost vaccine access, specially in locations that lack cold storage facilities. Freeze-dried vaccines do not need refrigeration and can be activated by adding a liquid resolution when prepared for use.

Ahmad Darwish, a study associate, explained that the microwave approach has faced challenges with heating uniformity. Nonetheless, their program has accomplished substantially enhanced uniformity and heating efficiency. The Purdue researchers are at present operating towards bringing their technologies to the marketplace, which could have a substantial effect on vaccine distribution and accessibility.