Freeze-drying of nanoparticles: Formulation, process and storage considerations

Freeze-drying has been considered as a good technique to improve the long-term stability of colloidal nanoparticles. The poor stability in an aqueous medium of these systems forms a real barrier against the clinical use of nanoparticles. This article reviews the state of the art of freeze-drying nanoparticles. It discusses the most important parameters that influence the success of freeze-drying of these fragile systems, and provides an overview of nanoparticles freeze-drying process and formulation strategies with a focus on the impact of formulation and process on particle stability. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.