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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 2, 2026

Reduced-gravity Environment Hardware Demonstrations of a Prototype Miniaturized Flow Cytometer and Companion Microfluidic Mixing Technology

Reduced-gravity Environment Hardware Demonstrations of a Prototype Miniaturized Flow Cytometer and Companion Microfluidic Mixing Technology

Published on: November 13, 2014

Pembrolizumab microgravity crystallization experimentation.

Paul Reichert¹, Winifred Prosise¹, Thierry O Fischmann¹

¹1Computational and Structural Chemistry, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ USA.

NPJ Microgravity

|December 10, 2019

Summary

Crystallization of biologics like pembrolizumab was achieved in microgravity, yielding uniform particle sizes. These findings enabled improved earth-based methods for creating injectable drug formulations.

Keywords:

Biochemistry Biophysical chemistry

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Last Updated: Jan 2, 2026

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Published on: August 31, 2013

Area of Science:

Biopharmaceutical manufacturing
Protein crystallization
Drug delivery systems

Background:

Crystallization is vital for pharmaceutical manufacturing but challenging for large biologics like monoclonal antibodies.
Developing crystallization processes for biologics offers significant therapeutic and delivery benefits.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the crystallization of pembrolizumab (Keytruda®) using microgravity conditions on the International Space Station (ISS).
To compare microgravity-induced crystallization with ground-based control experiments.
To apply findings to develop improved earth-based crystallization techniques for injectable formulations.

Main Methods:

Crystallization experiments with pembrolizumab conducted on the ISS via SpaceX-CRS-10 mission.
Utilized microgravity to minimize sedimentation and convection.
Ground control experiments performed for comparison.
Applied findings to develop earth-based rotational mixing and controlled temperature gradient techniques.

Main Results:

Microgravity yielded homogeneous, monomodal crystalline suspensions (39 μm) with high yield.
Ground controls produced heterogeneous, bimodal suspensions (13 μm and 102 μm).
Flight suspensions exhibited lower viscosity and more uniform sedimentation.
Earth-based methods produced uniform crystalline suspensions (1-5 μm) with suitable properties for injection.

Conclusions:

Microgravity facilitates uniform crystallization of biologics, overcoming challenges associated with size and flexibility.
Earth-based techniques inspired by space experiments enable production of high-quality crystalline suspensions for injectable formulations.
These advancements may expand drug delivery options, enhancing patient care.