Packaging Flashcards
What is the definition of packaging
Packaging is defined as the collection of different components (packs) that surround the pharmaceutical product from the time of production until its use
What are the primary pack, secondary pack and tertirary pack respectively
PRIMARY PACK:
–Contains the product;
–Protects the product.
•SECONDARY PACK: –Additional physical protection; –Designed to facilitate the transport; –Contain clear and concise information; –Aesthetically accepted design.
•TERTIARY PACK:
–Used for bulk handling and shipping
Why do medicines need packaging
The pack should give protection against climatic, biological, chemical and physical hazards. It should also guarantee stability of the drug-delivering medicines to patients in every dosage form
What are the key things packaging should provide for a medicine
Containment Protection Presentation and information Identification Convenience (it facilitates its use)
How long should the packaging protect the medicine for
Its whole shelf life - this includes the Manufacturing, Storage, Transport, Display, Dispensing, Administration
What are the principle packing materials used in the pharmaceutical industry
METAL, PLASTIC, PAPER, LAMINATES & GLASS
We must ensure the material does not interact with or otherwise cause damage to the product. It should also protect the medicine from external factors
Which types of metals and which forms are they available in to pack medicines
While their use has reduced we do still use metals
Aluminium: - Collapsible tubes (for inhalers etc.); Lozenge tubes; Metal foil laminates. They have a high resistance to corrosion and oxidation asthey are inert materials
Tinplate:- Flat tins e.g. lozenges; Large tins, for intermediate usage; Dusting powder tins.
What are the reasons why we might use metals to package drugs
Metals are not gas permiable and they protect drugs from light exposure
When using glass as a packing material, what are the 4 different classifications avaiable
Glass is widely used for its inert properties
Type I: borosilicate neutral glass –best pharmaceutical grade and most inert glass;
Type II: soda lime glass, sulfur dioxide treated surfaces to reduce glass components leaching to the pharmaceutical product;
Type III: soda lime glass, produced to contain large volumes (reduce the surface-to-volume ratio = minimiseleaching);
NP (Type IV): general purpose glass, less quality with impurity
How does BP classify glass which can be used for drug packaging
British Pharmacopoeia classification: different types of glass are classified as a function of the components (>66% silica is required) There are a few additives which can be put into the glass to change its characteristics.
Why do we use thermoplastics for medicines packaging. Give some examples of thermoplastics
Thermoplastic: mainly used as a container, for their mechanical performance (rigid) e.g. polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, polystyrene.
Which container forms can plastics be formulated into
Bottles, tubes, single dose containers, blister packs and bottle closures
How are polymers classified in regards to medicine packaging and which is the most commonly used
Thermoplastics, thermosets, and elastomers
Thermoplastics are most commonly used
What is the key factor we must consider in regards to the stability of drugs within polymer containers
Polymers are gas permeable. This means that different polymers have different transmission rates of gases and oxygen in specific. This is important when designing a pack pharmaceutical product sensitive to oxygen, as some polymers may not provide the required level of protection against oxidative degradation. PET has a low o2 transmission rate whereas LDPE has a high one
How can we alter plastics to make them light resistant
To add protection to light, polymers can be prepared including dyes to give partial or total filtering to light
Why do we still sometimes use paper as medical packaging
It is used for the secondary pack, as in labels, leaflets, and cartons.
What is the major drawback of using paper as packaging
Paper is highly hygroscopic and this is detrimental for pharmaceutical products sensitive to moisture.
What are laminates
Laminates are composite materials. Laminates are made by layers of different materials, such as paper, plastic and metal
Why do we use laminates
The combination of materials is designed to offer different types of protection to the pharmaceutical product, for example the combination of aluminium with plastic, will give a light composite material that can be manufactured in different shapes and sizes, providing an optimal barrier to gases and light, as well as return a great mechanical resistance to external forces
What is the carbon footprint of a medicine
The total greenhouse gas emmissions caused by a pharmaceutical product expressed as a carbon dioxide equivalent.
To determine this, the life-cycle of pharmaceutical products must be considered by companies, from discovery to end-of-use. This covers manufacturing steps, such as production and formulations, the supply chain for each component, the packaging used, as well as how unused products and packaging are disposed of.
The CO2 footprint of different products can be very different. What are some ways in which a company can reduce a medicines carbon footprint
Composite materials such as tetrapack are the ones with the lowest CO2 equivalent. When materials are re-used, as per glass bottles, their CO2 equivalent could be highly reduced too.
How much of the NHSs carbon footprint can be attributed to medicines
In the UK, around 20% of the NHS’s carbon footprint is related to pharmaceutical products
Why is it more difficult for the pharmaceutical industry to ‘go green’
While other industries are able to adjust their packaging strategies with ease, for the pharmaceutical industry, it’s not so straightforward. Remember that safety is always a priority and a balance needs to be implemented to ensure that products can continue to be manufactured and packaged safely, while also taking greener practices into consideration
What is the main factor to consider when designing the packaging process
The characteristics of the product to be packed.
For example, variations of the process occur when using:
•Sterile products, e.g. produced aseptically vs. terminal sterilisation.
•Non-sterile but microbiologically controlled;
•Use of pre-formed containers.
