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High‑Throughput Solid‑Form Discovery Enabled by Zinsser Analytic Robotics

Polymorph screening is a cornerstone of modern pharmaceutical development. Identifying and controlling all relevant solid forms of an API is essential to ensure bioavailability, stability, manufacturability, and IP protection. However, manual polymorph screening is slow, labor‑intensive, and difficult to scale. 

Zinsser Analytic enables fully automated, high‑throughput polymorph screening—from powder dosing and crystallization to analysis‑ready samples—delivering faster results, higher reproducibility, and a rapid return on investment compared to manual handling. 

Designed for High‑Throughput Polymorph and Salt Screening

Zinsser robotic systems are purpose‑built for HT polymorph and salt screening, combining: 

  • Automated powder handling (optional, mg‑scale)
  • Precision liquid and anti‑solvent dosing
  • Heating, standard cooling, and low‑temperature cooling or crash cooling
  • Shaking, stirring, evaporation, filtration, and crystallization
  • Dynamic experiment loading via Worklist Creator
All process steps are executed on a single integrated robotic platform, enabling true walk‑away operation.  
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End‑to‑End Automated Sample Preparation

Unlike partial or instrument‑focused solutions, Zinsser automation covers the entire sample preparation workflow required for polymorph screening: 

  1. Automated dispensing of API powders into reactor blocks
  2. Automated solvent and anti‑solvent addition
  3. Precise, programmable temperature control (including low‑temperature crystallization)
  4. Controlled agitation by magnetic stirring or shaking
  5. Automated evaporation and drying
  6. Integrated filtration for slurry‑based workflows

This end‑to‑end approach dramatically reduces hands‑on time and variability while increasing throughput and data quality. 

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Crissy® Block Concept – Crystals Ready for Detection

At the heart of Zinsser’s polymorph screening workflow is the Crissy® block concept, specifically designed to streamline downstream analysis. 

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Key Advantages 

  • Glass reactor bases positioned ~1 mm above the block
  • Crystals are directly accessible for X‑ray analysis
  • Minimizes sample transfer and form disturbance
  • Exchangeable lids allow automated powder dispensing and solvent access

Result: Crystals are generated and presented in an analysis‑ready format with minimal manual intervention. 

Direct Compatibility with XRPD Systems

Zinsser polymorph screening blocks are fully compatible with automated X‑ray diffraction systems, for high throughput analysis, including: 

  • Bruker               
  • Malvern/PANalytical
  • STOE

Available block formats include 96, 48, and 24 positions, enabling flexible throughput scaling. 
Crissy® blocks and transmission plates are designed for direct loading onto automated XRD stages, eliminating time‑consuming and error‑prone manual sample preparation. 

Transmission Plates for Advanced XRD Analysis

For transmission X‑ray measurements, Zinsser provides transparent transmission plates, allowing crystals to be transferred reproducibly: 

  • Crystals are gently pushed or shaken into defined cavities
  • Ideal for transmission XRD geometries
  • Preserves crystal integrity and spatial distribution

This enables seamless transition from crystallization to advanced structural analysis—fully aligned with high‑throughput workflows. 

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Fully Automated Filtration and Slurry Workflows

Polymorph screening often requires slurry experiments and solid–liquid separation. Zinsser systems integrate: 

  • Automated filtration blocks
  • Positive‑pressure filtration
  • Automated transfer of slurries from reactor blocks to filtration blocks
  • Filtration blocks directly compatible with XRPD systems for high throughput analysis
  • These capabilities enable the exploration of thermodynamically stable forms under realistic process conditions—without manual handling bottlenecks. 
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True High‑Throughput Robotics – Built for Efficiency

Zinsser HTS polymorph screening systems can feature: 

  • Multiple robotic arms performing powder handling, liquid handling, gas handling, and transport routines
  • Parallel processing of multiple reactor blocks
  • Inert operation conditions if required
  • Centralized control via WinLISSY® software

Experiments can be dynamically queued and executed while the system is running, maximizing uptime and throughput.

Fast ROI Compared to Manual Polymorph Screening

Automating polymorph screening delivers immediate and measurable benefits: 

  • Reduced hands‑on laboratory time
  • Improved reproducibility and data consistency
  • Lower API consumption through miniaturization
  • Faster identification of stable and relevant solid forms
  • Earlier, more confident development decisions

For organizations running large screening programs, automation typically yields a significant return on investment in a short time frame compared to manual workflows. 

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Why Zinsser Analytic?

True end‑to‑end automation, not just crystallization or analysis

Optional automated powder handling, a key differentiator

XRPD‑compatible block designs (Crissy®, transmission plates, filtration plates)

Extreme temperature flexibility and process control

Open, modular workflow architecture adaptable to evolving screening strategies

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Built for Discovery Today—and Scale Tomorrow

From early enabling polymorph screens to extensive, high‑throughput campaigns, Zinsser Analytic robotic systems provide a future‑proof platform for solid‑form screening. 

Automate polymorph discovery

Improve data quality

Accelerate development with confidence.