Packaging for pharma products is very important as it keeps the drugs safe. Besides, it also communicates the brand’s identity.
Drug packaging involves a variety of materials, from glass bottles to innovative plastic containers. It fulfils a number of functions and protects drugs from light, water, oxygen, biological toxins, and mechanical damage.
Bottles
Bottles have been an important component of medicine packaging since the 19th century. Their protection, portability, size and labeling versatility make them a reliable and cost-effective choice for pharmaceutical products.
They’re available in two types: glass and plastic. The latter is available in a variety of colors to protect liquid drugs from UV rays. The main raw materials for plastic bottles are polyethylene, polypropylene and polyvinyl chloride. They’re chemically stable, odorless and non-toxic.
When used for tablet and capsule dosage forms, they provide good barrier properties against moisture, oil, temperature, and other environmental factors. They come in a wide range of sizes and are typically lined with child-resistant caps.
The reactivity of aluminum backing on blister packs can contaminate and shorten the shelf life of drug product. We can apply a resin coating to decrease this reactivity and make the packaging more sanitary.
Sachets
Sachets are a type of packaging that is often used for powdered products. They are also popular for small-sized, one-time use products that consumers want to take on the go.
In the pharmaceutical industry, sachets are often used for drug samples and effervescent or chewable tablets. They are able to protect the product against light, oxygen and moisture, making them an ideal choice for many pharmaceutical applications.
Traditionally, sachets have been made of laminated paper foil, but can be manufactured from laminated PET aluminum foil as well. This foil is more difficult to tear than laminated aluminum paper, making it child-resistant.
In addition to being environmentally friendly and recyclable, sachets are also a cost-effective way to package small portions of products. They are especially convenient for on-the-go lifestyles and frequent travelers, and make it easy to pre-measure the dose of a nutritional supplement, vitamin or medicine. They can also be personalized with a label and other branding elements.
Syringes
Syringes are a convenient and safe way to administer liquid drugs. They come in several shapes, sizes, and volumes.
They can be made from glass, plastics (copolymers or polypropylene), or stainless steel. Generally, they are used for single-use applications and are disposable.
Pharmaceuticals are often packaged in prefilled syringes to reduce manual injection steps and eliminate the risk of needlestick injuries. The syringes are often coated with a protective coating to keep the liquid drug from contaminating surrounding tissue and causing contamination or injury.
In-process control and weighing of each syringe before and after filling ensure precise fill volumes. Vacuum-assist stoppering minimizes oxygen levels within the headspace, which enhances product stability and protects potency.
To meet the needs of many sensitive biologics, SCHOTT Pharma offers a metal-free manufactured syringe design. SCHOTT’s syriQ BioPure syringes are also designed to eliminate silicone-induced aggregation and particulate problems for sensitive biologics.
Containers
Containers are used to package pharmaceutical products in order to preserve their strength and quality. They are also useful in preventing product contamination and counterfeiting.
Some primary pharmaceutical packaging materials include ampoules, vials, syringes, blister packs and bottles. These containers are used in the pharmacy, in hospitals and in other medical establishments.
Depending on the nature of the pharmaceutical product, different types of containers are used in medicine packaging. These packaging materials are made from a variety of plastics, including polyethylene.
These plastics are durable and offer a wide range of benefits such as being leak-proof, unbreakable, being reusable and having a unique suck-back feature that allows the drug to be dispensed into the patient’s vein.
Pharmaceutical printing packaging is a complex field that requires careful consideration of many factors. It must maintain the integrity of the product, comply with FDA regulations and be child resistant. In addition, it must provide patients with the information they need to take the medicine safely and properly.