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Freeze-thaw of Pharmaceutical Solutions: Counter-Intuitive Finding of an Increase in Mechanical Stress between Tg” and Tg’ in Frozen Sucrose/Water Mixtures Full article

Journal Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences
ISSN: 0022-3549 , E-ISSN: 1520-6017
Output data Year: 2025, Volume: 114, Number: 7, Article number : 103800, Pages count : DOI: 10.1016/j.xphs.2025.103800
Tags Aqueous solutions; Freezing; Ice crystals; Microstrain; Size of crystalline domains; Synchrotron X-ray diffraction
Authors Kostyuchenko Anastasia 1 , Zakharov Boris 2,3 , Fisyuk Alexander 1,4 , Bhatnagar Bakul 5 , Seryotkin Yurii 3,6 , Boldyreva Elena 3 , Shalaev Evgenyi 7
Affiliations
1 Laboratory of New Organic Materials, Omsk State Technical University, 11 Mira Avenue, Omsk 644050, Russian Federation
2 Synchrotron Radiation Facility SKIF, Boreskov Institute of Catalysis SB RAS, Kol'tsovo, 630559, Russian Federation
3 Novosibirsk State University, Pirogova Street, 2, Novosibirsk 630090, Russian Federation
4 Laboratory of Organic Synthesis, Chemistry Department, Omsk F.M. Dostoevsky State University, Prospect Mira 55a, Omsk, 644053, Russian Federation
5 BTx PharmSci Pharmaceutical R&D, Pfizer, Inc., One Burtt Road, Andover 01810, MA, USA
6 Sobolev Institute of Geology and Mineralogy, Siberian Branch of the RAS, Koptyuga Avenue, 3, Novosibirsk 630090, Russian Federation
7 Development Sciences, R&D, AbbVie Inc., Irvine, CA, USA

Funding (4)

1 European Synchrotron Radiation Facility LS-2601
2 European Synchrotron Radiation Facility LS-2742
3 Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation FWUR-2024-0042
4 Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation Приоритет 2030

Abstract: High-resolution synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction has been utilized to detect mechanical stresses in frozen solutions, via analysis of the profiles of the diffraction peaks of ice. Increase in the width of the peaks (peaks broadening) reflects disruption of the crystal lattice, with contributions including a decrease in the crystallite size and an increase in microstrain. Frozen sucrose solutions (5 and 10 % w/v) were frozen at 100 K and then heated and annealed at -45 °C (228 K) and -15 °C (258 K), i.e. between the two apparent glass transition events in the freeze-concentrated solutions (Tg” and Tg’), and above the Tg’, respectively. A decrease in microstrain and an increase in ice crystallite size were observed during annealing at -15 °C (above the Tg’), which is consistent with Ostwald ripening of ice crystals. Unexpectedly, and for the first time, an opposite trend was observed during annealing at the lower temperature of -45 °C, between Tg” and Tg’. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of an increased strain in the crystalline ice domains and of simultaneous size reduction during annealing of frozen aqueous solutions. Considering that the interaction with ice crystals may result in protein destabilization, the size and microstrain of ice crystallites can serve as markers of the freeze/thaw stresses on biopharmaceuticals. A practical implication is that a prolonged hold between Tg” and Tg’ may increase stress imposed on protein molecules, i.e. a lower temperature is not always better for preserving biopolymers when freezing their aqueous solutions.
Cite: Kostyuchenko A. , Zakharov B. , Fisyuk A. , Bhatnagar B. , Seryotkin Y. , Boldyreva E. , Shalaev E.
Freeze-thaw of Pharmaceutical Solutions: Counter-Intuitive Finding of an Increase in Mechanical Stress between Tg” and Tg’ in Frozen Sucrose/Water Mixtures
Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2025. V.114. N7. 103800 . DOI: 10.1016/j.xphs.2025.103800 WOS Scopus AN PMID OpenAlex publication_identifier_short.sciact_skif_identifier_type
Dates:
Submitted: Nov 6, 2024
Accepted: Apr 16, 2025
Published online: Apr 23, 2025
Published print: Jul 1, 2025
Identifiers:
Web of science: WOS:001493471600004
Scopus: 2-s2.0-105004986582
Chemical Abstracts: 2025:1109103
PMID: 40280484
OpenAlex: W4409717252
publication_identifier.sciact_skif_identifier_type: 3921
Citing: Пока нет цитирований
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