Intensification of the freeze drying process by the control of both freezing and primary drying steps

The problem of optimization of freeze-drying cycles is addressed, with emphasis in both freezing and primary drying steps. In particular, this study shows that the control of the nucleation event produces more uniform batches (as ice nucleation is induced in all the vials of batch almost at the same time and temperature) and allows a marked reduction in the duration of the optimized cycle (if compared to cycles carried out with conventional stochastic nucleation).