Vaccine manufacturing made possible by vacuum
February 24, 2021
4 MIN READ
Vacuums in the pharmaceutical industry
The use of vacuum for freeze-drying in the pharmaceutical industry is well known, but there are several steps within the synthesis where vacuum is crucial. Purification within the manufacturing process is paramount, and an ultra-high-speed centrifuge is employed to facilitate this step. The different settling coefficients or buoyancy density of the mixture's components allow the purification process to be achieved. High rotational speeds of more than 30,000 RPM are required to produce complete separation of the active species and unwanted contaminants. Such large rotational speeds will cause air friction within the mixture and result in heat generation, damaging the active components. The use of a high vacuum pump system incorporating a turbomolecular pump (TMP), and ideally a dry vacuum pump, allows heat to be extracted from the mixture as illustrated below.
Freeze drying
The critical components of vaccines are active microorganisms and enzymes, which are live, and must remain that way to be effective.
The finished live vaccine is mixed with a water-based stabilizer to form a suspension, and then the material is frozen. A vacuum is then applied with a little heat, such that the ice changes from solid to vapor or sublimes. Because of the low temperature of the sublimation process, the vaccine components remain active and undamaged.
The phase diagram for water shown below illustrates how at low pressure, the solid ice changes directly to a vapor, with no intermediate liquid phase involved.
The freeze-dried vaccine can be sealed and stored under vacuum; this offers the advantages of a long shelf life, rapid dissolution with diluent during use, and unchanged recovery characteristics. It is currently the most common method to preserve live vaccines.
Glass vial production
Space missions, scientific or commercial satellites, space research projects such Before transportation and dispensing, the vaccine is dispensed into glass vials. The correct choice of glass is crucial to maintain the vaccine's efficacy. Only low borosilicate glass has the high chemical stability needed to achieve the vaccine's long-term stability. It has an excellent strength to thermal expansion and contraction, essential for long-term storage at below-ambient temperatures.
Vacuum is required in two stages of the production of borosilicate vials:
The melting process to remove air trapped in the glass, typically operating at around 50 mbar pressure. Glass dust and high temperatures must be addressed, and traditionally liquid ring pumps have been the standard. But increasingly, to reduce running costs, both oil rotary vane and screw pumps are employed. Dry screw pumps offer an oil-free alternative.
The molding process requires vacuum levels of around 100 mbar. Short pump downtimes and continuous operation are critical, and again oil rotary vane, screw pumps, and dry screw pumps are increasingly used.
Transportation and storage prior to use
As mentioned, the first approved vaccine, Pfizer BioNtech, requires storage at -60°C. Maintaining this temperature presents a significant challenge. The use of Vacuum Insulation Panel (VIP) technology offers a method to maintain these temperatures in an energy-efficient way. VIP provides a very low thermal conductivity of 0.004W (m.K), with a typical container wall thickness of 25 – 60 mm. By comparison, conventional mineral wool of 150 mm thickness would have a value of 0.04W (m.K).
This results in not only greater efficiency but also more storage within the refrigeration unit.
This technology also has more comprehensive applications for insulating older buildings without significant loss of internal space while significantly reducing the carbon footprint.
VIP structure comprises three parts: insulating material, a gas adsorption material (Getter), and a closed insulating film (barrier). This secure insulating barrier is pumped to a high vacuum level before sealing, thus offering exceptional insulation properties.
A typical vacuum system is shown below:
The high-speed forevacuum pumping train minimizes the time before the diffusion pump kicks in to give a rapid turnaround of the panels.
Conclusion
Using a high vacuum pumping system in conjunction with an Ultra-High-Speed centrifuge allows vaccine purification while minimizing any detrimental effect of heat on the product.
Vacuum freeze-drying offers long-term bulk storage before transfer to dispensing vials.
Production of vials is dependent on a vacuum for air removal in the melting process, and additionally, the vacuum is key to the uniform molding of the vials.
Vacuum Insulating Panel technology gives reliable and energy-efficient low temperatures, crucial to the long-term stability of some vaccines.
