Pharmaceutical packaging materials

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Importance of qualitative pharmaceutical packaging material

Pharmaceutical packaging materials are crucial for safeguarding drug and pharmaceutical products against damage and contamination, ensuring their safety, efficacy, and stability. The right packaging material is necessary for providing tamper-evident protection, which helps prevent the use of counterfeit drugs. In addition, high-quality packaging materials must adhere to strict regulatory standards.

Not only should these materials shield the pharmaceutical products, but they should also allow for customization and design that reflects the brand identity, creating a positive impression on customers. Secure, versatile, and sustainable pharmaceutical packaging materials are vital for maintaining the integrity of medical products while meeting consumer and regulatory expectations.

Types of pharmaceutical packaging materials

Ecobliss Pharma uses a range of packaging materials for pharmaceutical products in order to preserve the integrity of medical products. What types of pharmaceutical packaging materials are used, depend on the drug or pharmaceutical product being packed. We listed the most common packaging material for pharmaceutical products that are used or incorporated by Ecobliss Pharma.

Primary packaging

Primary packaging materials come into direct contact with medications and are essential for maintaining the safety, efficacy, and stability of medical products. Some of the most commonly used primary packaging materials include:

• &#;Glass containers: Glass vials, ampoules, and bottles are often used for their excellent barrier properties against moisture and gas, as well as their resistance to chemical interactions.They are suitable for various dosage forms, such as liquids, powders, and lyophilized products.
• Plastic containers: Plastic packaging, such as bottles, blister packs, and prefilled syringes, are widely used due to their lightweight nature, cost-effectiveness, and ease of manufacturing. Common plastics used in primary packaging include polyethylene (PE), polypropylene(PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
• Metal containers: Aluminum, tinplate, or stainless steel containers can be used for primary pharmaceutical packaging, especially for products requiring additional protection from light, moisture, or extreme temperatures. Examples include aluminum tubes for creams andointments or metal cans for aerosol products.
• Paper and paperboard: Paper-based materials, such as sachets, cartons, and blister pack backing, are commonly used for solid dosage forms like tablets and capsules. They can be coated or laminated with other materials to enhance their barrier properties and ensure adequate protection for the medication.
• Flexible films and laminates: Flexible films, such as aluminum foils and plastic films, are often used in combination with other materials to create custom barrier properties for specific drug products. They can be utilized in strip packs, sachets, and blister packs toprotect against light, moisture, and oxygen.
• Pre-filled syringes: Pre-filled syringes are becoming increasingly popular for injectable drug delivery. They can be made from glass or plastic materials, providing a convenient and accurate dosingmethod for patients and healthcare professionals.
• Drug-eluting devices: These innovative packaging solutions, such as drug-eluting stents or implants, provide controlled drug release over an extended period. They can be made from various materials, including biodegradable polymers, metals, and ceramics.
• Child-resistant packaging: Specialized packaging materials and designs are used to prevent children from accessing potentially harmful medications. Examples include child-resistant caps, blister packs with push-through foil, unit-dose packaging and solutions such as Locked4Kids.

Primary pharmaceutical packaging materials must meet stringent quality and safety standards to ensure the protection of medications and maintain their efficacy throughout the product's shelf life. These materials are selected based on factors such as the drug's chemical properties, dosage form, and storage requirements.

Secondary packaging

Secondary packaging serves to protect primary packaging and provides additional structural support, as well as to offer important information about the product, such as usage instructions, safety warnings, and branding. Some of the most commonly used secondary packaging materials include:

• Folding cartons: These are made from paperboard and are commonly used to package pharmaceutical products such as blister packs, bottles, and tubes. Folding cartons provide additional protection and can be printed with important product information, branding, and instructions for use.
• Corrugated boxes: Corrugated boxes are made from multiple layers of paperboard and provide excellent structural support and protection for products during transportation and storage. They are often used to package bulk quantities of medications or to group multipleprimary packages together.
• Pouches and bags: Flexible pouches andbags made from plastic, foil, or laminated materials can be used as secondary packaging for products like sachets, strip packs, and medical devices. They provide additional protection from moisture, light, and contamination.
• Wallets: Wallets, also known as wallet packs or wallet cards, are a type of secondary packaging used primarily for solid dosage forms, such as tablets and capsules, as well as transdermal patches and other thin, flexible products.They offer additional protection, portability, and convenience for consumers.
• Blister cards: Blister cards are a type of secondary packaging that combine a blister pack with a paperboard backing. The pharmaceutical blister packaging contains the medication in individual cavities, while the paperboard backing can be printed with important information about the product, such as instructions for use, safety warnings, and branding. Blistercards provide an additional layer of protection and can help improve patient adherence by making it easy to track medication usage.

Applications of pharmaceutical packaging materials

Pharmaceutical packaging materials are used across various industries, including the dental, medical, and pharmaceutical industries. They cater to a wide range of products and can be customized to meet the specific requirements of both small batches and large commercial batches. Some of the key applications of pharmaceutical packaging materials include:

• &#;Prescription medications: Packaging materials protect prescription drugs from degradation and contamination, ensuring their safety, efficacy, and stability throughout their life cycle.
• Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs: OTC drugs also require secure packaging to prevent tampering and protect the integrity of the product.
• Dental products: Dental products, such as dental implants and orthodontic devices, require specialized packaging to maintain their sterility and ensure patient safety.
• Medical devices: Medical devices, such as syringes, catheters, and surgical instruments, require packaging materials that provide adequate protection and maintain the sterility of the product. Read more about medical device packaging.

High-quality packaging materials play a crucial role in safeguarding medications and medical products from various potential threats, including:

• &#;Contamination: Packaging materials prevent contamination by microbes, dust, and other foreign particles, ensuring the safety and efficacy of the drug for the patient.
• Degradation: Packaging materials protect medical products from degradation caused by external factors such as moisture, oxygen, light, and temperature fluctuations.
• Tampering and counterfeit drugs: Tamper-evident packaging features and secure designs help deter tampering and reduce the likelihood of counterfeit drugs entering the market.

Meeting regulatory standards and consumer expectations

Pharmaceutical packaging materials must comply with stringent law-abiding regulatory standards set by organizations like the United States Pharmacopeia (USP), the European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.), and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). This compliance ensures the safety, quality, and performance of the packaging materials used in the medical industry. Moreover, meeting these regulatory standards helps build consumer trust and confidence in medical products.

In addition to meeting regulatory standards, pharmaceutical packaging materials should also address consumer expectations in terms of convenience, ease of use, and aesthetics. By doing so, manufacturers can enhance patient compliance and create a positive user experience.

Customization and brand identity

Customization of pharmaceutical packaging materials is essential for various reasons, such as catering to the unique needs of individual medical products and enhancing brand identity. Custom packaging solutions can help pharmaceutical companies stand out in a competitive market and build consumer trust. Some of the ways in which packaging materials can be customized include:

• Size and shape: Packaging materials can be tailored to fit the specific dimensions and form factors of medical products, ensuring optimal protection and functionality.
• Color and design: Eye-catching colors and designs can be incorporated into packaging materials to create a strong visual identity for the brand.
• Printed information: Important product information, such as dosage instructions, warnings, and expiration dates, can be printed directly on the packaging materials, ensuring that consumers have access to essential information at all times.

Versatile packaging solutions

As the medical industry continues to evolve and expand, versatile packaging solutions are required to cater to the diverse range of products and applications. These versatile packaging solutions must be able to adapt to the unique requirements of various product types, ensuring the protection and integrity of medical products throughout their life cycle. Some key features of versatile packaging solutions include:

• Modularity: Modular packaging designs allow for flexibility and customization, enabling manufacturers to easily adapt their packaging solutions to different product types and sizes.
• Scalability: Versatile packaging solutions should be scalable to accommodate varying production volumes, ranging from small-scale, limited releases to large commercial batches.
• Material compatibility: Packaging materials should be compatible with the medical products they are designed to protect, ensuring that the product's quality, safety, and efficacy are not compromised.

Embracing sustainable packaging alternatives

As environmental concerns grow, the medical industry is increasingly adopting sustainable packaging solutions to reduce its ecological footprint. By utilizing eco-friendly materials and processes, manufacturers can minimize the environmental impact of packaging while still ensuring the protection and integrity of their products. Some examples of sustainable packaging alternatives include:

• Biodegradable plastics: Plastics that break down naturally in the environment can help reduce plastic waste and pollution.
• Recyclable materials: Packaging materials that can be easily recycled, such as paper, cardboard, and some plastics, help conserve resources and reduce waste.
• Recycled PET: By using recycled PET in packaging materials, manufacturers can reduce their reliance on virgin materials and promote a circular economy.
• Cold seal packaging: Cold seal packaging is a method that involves sealing packages without the use of heat, making it an energy-efficient process. This sealing technique is achieved by using a unique adhesive that bonds when pressure is applied, eliminating the need for heat sealing equipment. Cold seal packaging offers several advantages over traditional heat sealing methods, making it a highly sustainable choice for the pharmaceutical industry.

Ecobliss Pharma: your trusted supplier for pharmaceutical packaging materials

Selecting the appropriate pharmaceutical packaging material involves considering various factors, such as the level of protection needed, ease of use, cost, and required quantities. That is why it is essential to partner with a knowledgeable supplier with expertise in both packaging and pharmaceuticals. For decades, Ecobliss Pharma has been a reliable provider of diverse packaging solutions to the dental, medical, and pharmaceutical industries, catering to everything froms mall-scale to large commercial batches.

Throughout your product's lifecycle, Ecobliss Pharma is committed to supporting your business while maintaining strict compliance with industry regulations. Trust us for your pharmaceutical packaging needs and experience the difference that our expertise brings to the table.

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Drugs may be distributed in a variety of primary (innermost, touching the drug) and secondary (outermost, visible to the user) pharmaceutical packaging, depending on the requirements of the drug itself and the intended end-user.

Contact us to discuss your requirements of Pharmaceutical Packing Material factory. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

Pharmaceutical Packaging. Image Credit: Mr.1/Shutterstock.com

Drugs may be in the liquid, solid, or gas phase, and packaging must accommodate the specific long term storage needs of the drug. In the past, most drugs were provided in liquid form and dispensed by pharmacists in hospitals, though more recently solid dosage forms that are more appealing to patients have become commonplace.

Additionally, the competition between over-the-counter drug companies has led to an increase in the variety, size, and visual appeal of packaging.  Importantly, usage-dose packaging has become the standard for many drugs, significantly lessening the occurrence of dosage errors. Many packaging requirements are dependent on region, with labeling, material testing, tamper-proofing, quality control, and other factors being mandated by law.

Bottles, jars, and tubes

Glass is tough, transparent, inert, can be made to any size bottle, offers good temperature stability, and can be colored, allowing for protection of drugs from light. However, glass is also brittle, heavy, and relatively expensive, so drugs are less commonly distributed and stored in glass bottles than in the previous century, many being replaced with plastic.

Thicker creams and ointments are usually contained in plastic or aluminum tubes for ease of use, or specialized pump-bottles for larger volumes. Plastic is durable and more easily manufactured than glass, but may suffer from leaching, particularly when containing liquid drugs. For this reason, many syrups and other liquid drugs are still distributed in glass bottles and vials.

Glass for medical containers falls under three categories: type 1 is the most resilient, made from borosilicate glass, it is suitable for vials, bottles, and ampoules. Type 2 glass could be borosilicate or soda-lime-silica but is coated with a resistant surface by removal of sodium ions from the glass. It is generally suitable for the storage of mild aqueous solutions. Type 3 glass is usually made from soda-lime-silica and is the least resistant. It is generally suitable for storing non-aqueous solutions and powders.

Ampoules

Many drugs, both solid and liquid, may also be distributed in a special type of glass vial called an ampoule. Ampoules are usually used to contain air-sensitive drugs and chemicals, or those where sterility and an inert container are imperative. Gasses can also be stored in ampoules, or the ampoule can be pressurized with a particular gas to enhance the stability of the solid or liquid drug. The glass of the ampoule can also be modified to filter out harmful UV light.

Ampoules often bear color-coded rings around their necks that aid in identification should they be removed from their secondary packaging, and also often present a dot on the neck that aids with thumb alignment when breaking the ampoule. Glass ampoules have been criticized due to the inherent risk of small glass shards entering the fluid and being administered to a patient intravenously.

This problem has been somewhat alleviated by modern ampoule design, but many studies demonstrate that small fragments are still released upon breaking, correlating with ampoule size and wall thickness. Drugs are often filtered before being administered, but the smallest glass particles can still make it through and are treated by the body as foreign invaders.

Sachets

If the drug is solid in the form of a powder then it may be distributed to users in a sachet, usually pre-prepared at the suitable administration dose. Like ampoules, sachets may be purged with noble gas to aid product stability. They are usually made from a mixture of paper and foil and may be printed into large sheets that can be torn away as individual sachets. These sachets may contain pills instead of powder, however, since sachets offer no protection from crushing, pills are usually distributed in blister packs.

Blister packs

Solid drugs may also be compressed into tablets or be contained within gelatin capsules, though some liquid dosages may also be taken in pill form. Pills are often distributed in blister packs, thermo-set plastic sheets with space for the drugs that are backed by a card or foil sheet. Blister packs are light and cheap to produce and have the added advantage of reminding the user that the medication has been taken by the destructive method of access.

Blister packs have been criticized as being difficult to open for many users, particularly the elderly who may suffer from dexterity issues. Indeed, in many studies comparing the experiences of those over 65 with bottles, push-through blister packs, and peel-off blisters packs, the latter is considered the most difficult to open.

However, the advantages of blister packs generally still outweigh ease-of-access concerns due to the flexibility of use and protection afforded. They can be made opaque or clear for UV protection or visibility, and are air-tight to ensure protection from humidity. The pockets that contain each pill are separated, meaning that breach or contamination does not necessarily affect all the medication.

Specialized administration packaging

Many drugs must be administered by specific routes that require tools: any drug that must be injected using a needle and syringe, inhaled into the lungs with the aid of an inhaler, dropped into the eye using a pipette, sprayed into the nose using a nebulizer, etc.

In many cases, these drugs are delivered to the end-user with the administration method incorporated into the packaging of the drug. For example, single-use disposable insulin pens incorporate a thin needle that injects the intended dose of insulin under the patient&#;s skin.

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Source

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• Philbert, D., Notenboom, K., Bouvy, M. L. & van Geffen, E. C. G. () Problems experienced by older people when opening medicine packaging. International Journal of Pharmacy Practice, 22(3).
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• Lockhart, H. & Paine, F. A. () Packaging of Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare Products. Food Science and Nutrition, Springer.
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• World Health Organization () Guidelines on packaging for pharmaceutical products.
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