Packaging Flashcards
(35 cards)
Roles of packaging
Containment of product - leakage
Protection of product quality and potency - moisture, light
Presentation - brand identification
Compliance - packaging allow easy product administration
Patient protection - accidental poisoning
Detection of counterfeit - QR/hologram
Tamper proofing incident example
Tylenol 1982
Was spiked with cyanide leading to 7 deaths
Tamper proofing
Primary - Foil seals on creams and seals on bottles under cap or plastic seals on cap like mouthwash
Secondary - seals on boxes
Packaging levels
Primary - direct contact with product ie bottle, sachet, blister strips
Secondary - packaging that surrounds primary ie box that tablets come in
Tertiary - allow bulk handling ie large containers
(Tablet strip goes in a box that is delivered in a larger box)
Packaging component - Closures
Screw caps, child proof screw caps, tube caps, vial flip caps, enema applicator, vaginal applicator, dosing syringe
Packaging component - desiccants
Used in bottles to absorb moisture
Generally silica gel capsules
Warning not to swallow
Packaging component - leaflet
Printed document to provide essential information for patients about the use of medications
Packaging components - boxes
Tablet cardboard box - 2ndary
Carton box - tertiary
Labelling - includes….
Name of medicine
Strength
Dosage and route of admin
Dose
Indication
Manufacturing details
Warnings
Ideal packaging materials
Sufficient mechanical strength - withstand handling and transport
Elegant and easy t handle shape
Be chemically inert - no leak or absorb chemicals
Non toxic and chemically stable
Not impart tastes or odours to product
Reasonable cost
For sterile formulations should be stable during sterilisation
Types of packaging materials
Glass -> type I, type II, type III, type IV
Plastic -> polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polycarbonate
Metals -> aluminium, iron, tin, lead
Rubber -> butyl rubber, silicone rubber, natural rubber
Glass + adv&disadv
Composed of sand, soda ash and lime stone
Advantages:
i. Relatively chemically inert.
ii. Strong and rigid.
iii. Easy to clean and sterilise.
iv. Transparent glass enables easy visual inspection.
v. Coloured (red or amber) provides light protection for photolabile products.
vi. Impermeable.
Disadvantages:
I. Heavy.
II. Fragile.
III. Some types release alkali into aqueous products.
Type I glass composition, properties and uses
Borosilicate glass
SiO2 - 80%
• Has high melting point socan withstand high temperature
• Resistant to chemical substances
• Reduced leaching action.
• Reusable.
• Laboratory glass apparatus
• For injections.
• for water for Injection.
Type II glass composition, properties and uses
Treated side-lime glass
Made of soda lime glass. The surface of which is treated
with acidic gas like SO2 (i.e. dealkalised) at elevated
temperature (500°C) and moisture.
• Sulfur treatment neutralizes the alkaline oxides on the surface, thereby rendering the glass more chemically resistant.
• Used for alkali sensitive products.
• Infusion fluids, blood & plasma.
• large volume container
Type III glass composition, properties and uses
Regular soda-lime glass
SiO2, Na2O, CaO
• It contains high concentration of alkaline oxides and imparts alkalinity to aqueous substances
• May crack due to sudden change of temperature.
• For oily parenteral.
• Not for aqueous parenteral.
• Not for alkali- sensitive drugs.
Type IV glass composition, properties and uses
Non-parenteral glass or general purpose soda lime glass
• General purpose.
• For oral and topical.
• Not for parenteral.
What are Plastics
A group of synthetic polymers of high molecular weight
Polymer vs copolymer
A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A -> repeated small units
A-B-A-B-A-B-A-B OR A-A-A-B-B-B -> copolymer
What determines the physicochemical properties of the formed polymer
Chemical composition of monomer, arrangements of polymerisation, number of monomers
Linear chain
Closely packed
High density polymer
Branched chain
Loosely packed
Lower density polymer
The more monomer repetition …….
high molecular weight polymer → high glass transition temperature
𝑇 𝑔 and melting point 𝑇 𝑚 → the more rigid the plastic is.
Physical properties of plastic
They are sensitive to heat, and many may melt or soften at or below 100°C.
Light and easy to handle
Almost as strong as metals
Poor conductor of heat
Generally resistant to inorganic materials but often attacked by organic solvents and oils
Plastic additives
May contaminate the content:
o Antioxidants: prevent polymer oxidation.
o Lubricants : prevent plastic-mould adhesion.
o Plasticiser : to lower 𝑇 𝑔 making it easy to shape.
o Pigments : for colouration.
