Pharmaceutics - Packaging Flashcards
What are the 2 types of packaging?
Primary
Secondary
What is primary packaging?
Direct contact with the medicine
What does the primary packaging do?
Protect medicine from damage + contaminations
What is secondary packaging?
Do not make direct contact with the medicine
What are the different types of primary packaging?
Single/multi-dose container
Strip packs
Blister packs
Glass vials + ampoules
Sachets, tubes, bags + pre-filled syringed
What must a primary pack offer?
Child-resistance
Tamper-resistance + tamper evident
What do closures provide?
Effective seal to retain the contents + exclude external contaminants
What is the main problem with plastic?
Contain low-molecular weight additives that can be released over time
Why is glass still used today?
Inert
Excellent barrier properties
Stable
Clear = can see content
Coloured to protect from UV
What are the different types of glass?
Type I, II + III
What is Type I also called?
Borosilicate glass
What is Type I produced by?
Addition of boric oxide to glass
What are the advantages of Type I glass?
Highest pharmaceutical grade
Most inert
High thermal resistance
Suitable for all drug preparations
What is the problem with Type I glass?
Expensive
What is Type II glass called?
Soda-lime-silica glass
How is Type II glass made?
Treated with sulphur dioxide
What is Type II used for?
Packaging aqueous preparations
eg. eye preparations + dropper bottles
What is Type III glass made from?
Soda-lime-silica glass
What is Type III suitable for?
Non-parenteral preparations + powders for injections
What is Type III commonly used to produce?
Dispensary medical bottles
How are plastics produced?
Macromolecules produced either synthetically or by alteration of natural resin
What are the advantages of plastics?
Light + shatterproof
Clear
Easily sealed + shaped
Cheap
Greater versality
What are the disadvantages of plastics?
Chemical inertness + permeability lower than Type I glass
Less resistant to heat + light
Undergo cracking
Leach into content
What are the advantages of metals?
Mechanical strong
Shatterproof
Lightweight
Impermeable to light, moisture + gases
Malleable
What are the disadvantages of metals?
More expensive
React with product
What are metals used for?
Packaging for non-parenteral administration
What is metal prone to?
Corrosion due to interaction with H2O + O
What is rubber used for?
Closures/stoppers
What do closures on parenteral containers do?
Allows needle to enter + reseal when needle is removed
What is paper used for?
Labels + leaflets
Carton boxes
Bags
Sachets
What are the advantages of paper?
Low cost
Non-toxic
Recyclable
What are the disadvantages of paper?
Has no barrier properties
