LyoWave Inc., a Purdue University spinout company, has secured a $304,436 Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Science Foundation to advance its revolutionary microwave heating technology for pharmaceutical manufacturing. The company also received an additional $50,000 Phase I grant from the Indiana Economic Development Corp.'s Applied Research Institute.
The funded project, titled "Scaling Up Tunable High-Frequency Microwave Heating for Pharmaceutical and Biologics Manufacturing," aims to transition LyoWave's laboratory-scale innovation into commercially viable, high-throughput manufacturing platforms for injectable medicines, vaccines, and diagnostic reagents.
Revolutionary Microwave Technology
LyoWave's technology represents a significant departure from conventional freeze-drying methods. The company employs tunable microwave frequencies operating in the tens of gigahertz range—far beyond the conventional 2.45 gigahertz range typical of standard microwave sources. These high-frequency microwaves, traditionally reserved for radar and satellite communications, penetrate frozen pharmaceutical materials more effectively and uniformly.
"The microwaves utilized by LyoWave operate at frequencies in tens of gigahertz," according to the technical specifications. This shift in operational frequency enables rapid, highly tunable energy absorption profiles in frozen media, allowing unprecedented control over penetration depth and heating uniformity.
The technology sidesteps thermal gradients and hotspots that frequently plague traditional microwave drying methods, thereby ensuring product stability and uniformity in large-scale manufacturing contexts. Unlike conventional heating via conduction or convection, LyoWave's microwave heating method introduces volumetric energy deposition directly into the frozen matrix, substantially increasing drying velocity while preserving molecular integrity.
Clinical and Commercial Impact
Drew Strongrich, LyoWave co-founder and CEO, emphasized that developing the technology will lead to "faster, higher-yield manufacturing of injectable pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and diagnostic reagents." The technology not only shortens the overall freeze-drying cycle but also decreases energy consumption and operational costs, making lifesaving medicines more accessible and affordable.
The innovation addresses persistent challenges in pharmaceutical manufacturing where lyophilization has traditionally faced limitations related to slow drying rates and non-uniform temperature distribution, especially in large batch manufacturing. Conventional methods are insufficiently precise and often lead to degradation of sensitive biological molecules.
Strategic Partnerships and Development
LyoWave's growth trajectory has been accelerated through strategic partnerships. In May 2024, the company entered into a joint development agreement with Millrock Technology, an industry leader in innovative freeze dryers for biotech, pharmaceutical, and industrial applications from laboratory to production. This collaboration combines Millrock's expertise in biotechnology freeze dryers with LyoWave's microwave innovations to set new standards for freeze-drying capabilities.
The technology is licensed through Purdue Innovates Office of Technology Commercialization and was developed by researchers at Purdue University, led by Alina Alexeenko, the Reilly Professor in Aeronautics and Astronautics and Chemical Engineering. The technological foundation emerged from interdisciplinary expertise in fluid dynamics, classical mechanics, and microwave radiation.
Scaling for Commercial Manufacturing
The current SBIR project focuses on understanding the core scaling parameters necessary to maintain precision heating control at volume production levels—crucial for meeting stringent pharmaceutical quality standards. The tunability aspect gives manufacturers the flexibility to optimize energy deposition tailored to different formulations, vial sizes, and product geometries.
Founded in 2023, LyoWave has received seed funding from California-based Handshake Ventures. The confluence of university-backed intellectual property, robust financial backing, and industry partnerships positions LyoWave at the forefront of disruptive pharmaceutical manufacturing technologies.
The successful scaling and commercialization of this technology could alleviate chronic supply chain constraints in critical vaccines and biologics, helping to stabilize fragile biomolecules that are central to next-generation therapeutics while reducing manufacturing turnaround times.
