PACKAGING CHOICES for Compounded Materials

Puput Prima Rani

07 - 067 07 - 128 07 - 141

Packaging Options for Compounds

Glass Containers

Elastomeric Closures

Plastics

Metals

Blister and Strip Packaging

Glass Containers
Glass is an ideal choice for the containment of many solid or liquid preparations because of its resistance to decomposition by atmospheric conditions or by the solid or liquid contents of different chemical compositions. The USP classifies glass according to the amount of alkali released from the glass when it is attacked by or in intimate contact with water under specified conditions.

The following factors should be considered when using a glass container:

The thermal properties and physical design of the container may be important in processing situations. If a finished preparation is sensitive to certain ions (eg, those of barium or calcium), glass formulations that exclude those ions can be used

Plastics
Containers, closures, and medical devices made of plastic have become more common during the last half century.

Plastics are durable, easily molded into a variety of shapes, and flexible; they are often unbreakable; and they are biocompatible in many applications.

As a group, plastics (polymers, additives, fabricating agents) evoke a wide range of biologic responses.

Some of the most important problems that arise from the use of plastic
Sorption Desorption Permeation Photodegradation Bonding of a solute to a plastic Involves the leaching of plastic components of a container into its contents an excessive loss or gain of water, oxygen, or volatile organic compounds

Can affect either the product or its container

Changes in the product or its container as a result of productpackage interaction can occur gradually and require evaluation.

Polymer Modification

Elastomeric Closures
The selection of elastomer for packaging parenterals primarily involves the consideration of chemical, physical, and biologic properties. An elastomeric closure is a packaging component that is or may be in direct contact with a compounded preparation.

The ideal elastomeric closure

Nonreactive physically and chemically

A complete barrier to vapor and/or

gas transmission Can be easily penetrated by a needle or spike Can be resealed after puncture Resistant to coring and fragmentation Maintains package integrity at the seal surface

Metals
Metal tubes like aluminum and tin are strong, opaque, and impermeable to moisture, gases, light, bacteria, etc. They are also resistant to high and low temperatures. Malleable and ductile metals are usually used in thin sections or are laminated to plastics and paper.

Tubes with coatings may cause problems. It must be established that the coating material is inert and that it completely covers the underlying material. In addition, the coating should be evaluated for resistance to cracking and solvents.

Although they are quite popular, aluminum tubes react with fatty alcohol emulsions, mercurial compounds, and preparations with a pH range of 6.5 to 8.0.

Blister and Strip Packaging

Rigid PVC sheet is currently the most widely used blister material because of its ideal forming characteristics. Laminates used in strip packaging are combinations of various plies created to obtain the properties not provided by one material alone. Strip packages are produced at lower speeds than blister packages and occupy a greater volume.