L137- Pharmaceutical Packaging

Question 1

what are the different types of packaging?

Answer 1

-glass
-barrier function
-blisters
strips
speciality

Question 2

what are the different pack types?

Answer 2

• primary= direct contact with product
• secondary=surrounds primary packaging
• tertiary= extra material e.g leaflets

Question 3

why do we need packaging?

Answer 3

 Presentation
 Protection
 Identification/information
Convenience/containment/compliance

Question 4

why is presentation important for packaging?

Answer 4

• must be professional appearance

- designed to aid correct product selection

Question 5

why is protection important for packaging?

Answer 5

• Climactic–surroundingatmosphere
• Biological–microbiological(bacteria,yeast,moulds)
• Chemical–interactionsbetweenproductandpack
• Use - professionals and patients – including issues of use/misuse

Question 6

why is Identification/information important for packaging?

Answer 6

• labelling is possible

- brand identification

Question 7

why is Convenience/containment/compliance important for packaging?

Answer 7

-ease of use
-size restrictions
• Factorsincreasingprobabilityofmedicinemisuse – More pharmaceutical products available
– Polypharmacy

Question 8

what needs to be on the packaging

Answer 8

• in English
• batch nuber
• expiry date
• user information if P or GSL
• Amount of product in container
• strength of product

Question 9

what can be added to the internal packing to absorb moisture?

Answer 9

-desiccants they are silica gel capsules

Question 10

what are some company requirements for packaging and labelling?

Answer 10

– Brand identity
– Company identity
– Eye-catching if P or GSL
– Low cost
– Robust

Question 11

what are some professional pharmacist requirement for packaging and labelling?

Answer 11

– Easy to distinguish between products and strengths
– Easy to store
– Professional looking
– Robust

Question 12

how can tamper-proofing occur?

Answer 12

• Primary packaging – requirement for parenterals, foil
seal for creams
• Secondary packaging – perforated seals for boxes

Question 13

what are the different types of packaging testing?

Answer 13

• sealing

- child resistancy

Question 14

what are the advantages of using glass?

Answer 14

• Cheap (but more expensive than plastic)
• Easy to produce – various shapes and sizes
• Professional appearance
• Patient acceptability
• Easy to clean and sterilise
• Allows easy inspection of contents
• Good resistance to moisture permeation

Question 15

what are the disavantages of using glass?

Answer 15

Breakable – fragment release into product
• Some types release alkali into contents • Heavy
– Density > 2g/cm3

Question 16

what are the advantages of biodegradable polymer?

Answer 16

– Compostable
– Made from rapidly renewable sources
– Production does not involve harmful chemical to humans
– Could have good thermal and mechanical properties

Question 17

what are the disadvantages of biodegradable polymer?

Answer 17

– Expensive

– Poor gas and water barrier properties – Limitation with regard to stability

Question 18

what are the advantages of plastic?

Answer 18

– Cheap
– Robust
– Easy to manufacture
– Can be child-resistant or non child-resistant – Can be low density  lightweight
– Can be heat sealed

Question 19

what are the disadvantages of plastic?

Answer 19

– Not as inert as type I glass
– Quite permeable to moisture and O2  bad for sensitive drugs
– Some plastics undergo stress cracking
– Heat-sensitive
– May hold electrostatic charge
– Leakage of plastic additives
– Can adsorb some drugs and excipients
– Not biodegradable

Question 20

what is the process of the plastic packaginging single use ampoles?

Answer 20

“Blow-fill-seal” [BFS] technology
– Human-free process
– Used for sterile products

Question 21

what are the disadvantages of plastic single use ampoles?

Answer 21

– Expensive
– Specialist equipment required
– Need sterile facilities
– Very permeable to moisture and oxygen 
– Bad for very sensitive drugs

Question 22

what is the process to make plastic package-blisters?

Answer 22

– Roll of polymer film for base
– Cavities made using heated plate
– Cavities filled with tablets/capsules
– Sealed with lidding foil