What was a significant challenge faced by Florey and Chain in their research?

Florey and Chain faced significant challenges in their research, particularly in the area of mass-producing penicillin. While there were many hurdles along the way, the complexity of scaling up the production of penicillin was particularly daunting. Initially, penicillin was produced in very small quantities, which made it difficult to use it effectively in treating patients, especially during wartime when there was a pressing need for effective antibiotics.

The lack of funding was a hindrance, especially during the early stages of their research when they required resources to develop the necessary facilities for larger-scale production. However, the true challenge lay in the technical issues related to mass production. They needed to develop methods that could produce penicillin in sufficient quantities for it to be practical for widespread medical use. This involved working with industries to adapt and modify existing processes, which was a complex undertaking that required both innovation and collaboration.

Overall, the mass production challenges faced by Florey and Chain are widely recognized as a crucial barrier that they needed to overcome in order to successfully implement penicillin as a revolutionary treatment for bacterial infections.