Physical state of L-histidine after freeze-drying and long-term storage

Liquid samples of L-histidine of varying pH values and mixed with salt, metal ions, polysorbate 80 and sucrose have been analysed by differential scanning calorimetry to evaluate the influence of these additives on the glass transition temperature and crystallisation of L-histidine during freezing and thawing. L-Histidine solutions of varying pH were freeze-dried with and without a thermal cycle and the physical state of the freeze-dried cakes, following long-term storage, were studied by powder X-ray diffraction. Amorphous L-histidine crystallised when it was exposed to moisture, and the identity of the crystalline materials is reported. The crystallisation of L-histidine during freezing and thawing is dependent on the pH of the solution and is shown to be at a minimum at pH 6, which coincides with the pK(a) of the imidazoline function. Sucrose inhibited the crystallisation of L-histidine during thawing, while sodium chloride or polysorbate 80 did not. The addition of metal ions (Ca2+ and Mg2+) up to 10% (w/w) did not depress the glass transition temperature significantly, while the addition of Zn2+ increased it. The physical state of L-histidine after freeze-drying is shown to be dependent on both the pH of the solution and the freezing cycle. The risk of crystallisation of amorphous L-histidine is low if the freeze-dried material is protected from moisture.