700085Innovative solutions for freeze drying reagentsClosedGRD Proof of MarketInnovate UKThis project aims to assess the commercial opportunity for a new laboratory consumable product. Specifically, Biopharma Technologies Limited (Biopharma) have submitted a patent application describing a reagent tube that enables freeze drying of liquid reagents directly in industry standard ‘eppendorf’ style reagent tubes. At present, temperature-sensitive and labile liquid reagents used in laboratory testing and experimentation are either shipped frozen in dry ice, which is costly and carries a very large carbon footprint, or they are freeze dried and sent at ambient temperature. The latter is more cost effective and significantly more environmentally friendly, but has been difficult to execute in the industry standard style of tubes. Where freeze drying is performed, alternative tubes like screw-caps or glass vials are used, but these are less acceptable by the end users. This project will assess the commercial opportunity that would be created by enabling freeze drying in ‘eppendorf’ tubes to be performed routinely, cheaply and cost effectively. This opportunity would arise from: • Converting existing liquid reagent products from liquid to freeze drying formulations • Allowing new products to be formulated for freeze drying without going through a liquid formulation stage • Extending the range of reagents to those that are unsuitable for a liquid formulation.