Lyophilization is an effective method for preserving biological materials such as proteins, enzymes, exosomes, and vaccines by removing water from the sample while maintaining its structure and function. While lyophilization can reduce microbial activity by removing water essential for microbial growth, it typically does not outright “kill” bacteria.
The primary mechanism by which lyophilization inhibits microbial growth is through dehydration, which renders bacteria dormant rather than killing them. Most bacteria require water for metabolic processes and reproduction. By removing water through lyophilization, bacterial growth is effectively halted since the lack of water prevents them from metabolizing and reproducing.
However, it’s important to note that some bacterial species, particularly extremophiles, are capable of surviving extreme conditions such as desiccation and may still remain viable in lyophilized samples. Therefore, while lyophilization can significantly reduce microbial activity, it is not a sterilization method and may not completely eliminate all bacterial contaminants.
To ensure microbial safety, additional steps such as sterilization of equipment, using sterile ingredients, and maintaining aseptic conditions during the lyophilization process are often employed in conjunction with lyophilization when bacterial contamination is a concern. Additionally, lyophilized products may undergo further sterilization procedures such as gamma irradiation or filtration to ensure microbial safety.
Catachem offers lyophilization services to preserve delicate substances like biologics, nucleic acids, enzymes, proteins, calibrators and controls.