Packing and Packaging

Packaging Container or wrapper for a consumer product that serves a number of purposes including protection and description of the contents, theft deterrence, and product promotion. Innovative packaging may actually add value to the product if it meets a consumer need such as portion control, recyclability, tamper-proofing, child-proofing, easy-open, easy-store, easy-carry, and nonbreakability. Package design must meet five groups of functional criteria: in-home, in store (or warehouse), production, distribution and safety, and legal. Packing The act or process of one that packs. The processing and packaging of manufactured products.

Single-dose container   A single-dose container holds a quantity of the preparation intended for total or partial use as a single administration. Multidose container   A multidose container holds a quantity of the preparation suitable for two or more doses. Well-closed container   A well-closed container protects the contents from contamination with extraneous solids and liquids and from loss of contents under ordinary conditions of handling, storage and transport. Airtight container   An airtight container is impermeable to solids, liquids and gases under ordinary conditions of handling, storage and transport. If the container is intended to be opened on more than one occasion, it must be so designed that it remains airtight after re-closure. Sealed container   A sealed container is a container closed by fusion of the material of the container. Tamper-proof container  A tamper-proof container is a closed container fitted with a device that reveals irreversibly whether the container has been opened. Child-proof container  A container that is fitted with a closure that prevents opening by children.

The material to be used as packaging for pharmaceutical products must have the following characteristics. They must protect the preparation from the environmental conditions They must not be reactive with the product. They must not taste or odor to the product They must be non toxic They must meet tamper resistant requirements they must be adaptable to high speed packing machine. Materials The commonly used materials are Glass Plastic Metallic Rubber Lamination 1. Glass: it is the most commonly employed packaging material because of the following characteristics Superior protection qualities Economical

Available in different sizes and shapes Chemically inert Impermeable, strong, and rigid Glass does not deteriorate with age It provides excellent barrier against every element except light Colored glass (amber) can give light protection Disadvantages It is highly fragile Heavy weight Blooming or weathering

According to their hydrolytic resistance, glass containers are classified as follows: Type I glass containers/Borosilicate glass: neutral glass, with a high hydrolytic resistance due to the chemical composition of the glass itself, Type I glass containers are suitable for most preparations whether or not for parenteral use. Type II glass containers/Treated soda lime Glass: usually of soda-lime-silica glass with a high hydrolytic resistance resulting from suitable treatment of the surface, Type II glass containers are suitable for most acidic and neutral, aqueous preparations whether or not for parenteral use. Type III glass containers/Regular soda lime glass: usually of soda-lime-silica glass with only moderate hydrolytic resistance. Type III glass containers are in general suitable for non-aqueous preparations for parenteral use, for powders or parenteral use (except for freeze-dried preparations) and for preparations not for parenteral use. Type NP/General purpose soda lime glass: containers made of soda lime glass used for nonparenteral products, used for oral or topical products.

Plastic Containers Plastic containers and closures for pharmaceutical use are made of materials in which may be included certain additives; these materials do not include in their composition any substance that can be extracted by the contents in such quantities as to alter the efficacy or the stability of the product or to present a risk of toxicity. The most commonly used polymers are Polyethylene Polypropylene, Poly vinyl chloride Polyethylene terephthalate Polyethylene-vinyl acetate Polystyrene The most common additives may consist of antioxidants, stabilizers, plasticizers, lubricants, colouring matter and impact modifiers. Antistatic agents and mould-release agents. The plastic container chosen for any particular preparation should be such that: The ingredients of the preparation in contact with the plastic material are not significantly adsorbed on its surface and do not significantly migrate into or through the plastic. The plastic material does not release substances in quantities sufficient to affect the stability of the preparation or to present a risk of toxicity.

Collapsible Tubes Metal: collapsible metal tube is an attractive container that permits controlled amounts to be dispensed, with good reclosure and adequate protection of the product. The risk of contamination of the remaining portion is less as it do not suck back. It is light weight and unbreakable and lend itself to high speed filling machine. The most common metals used are tin (15%), aluminum (60%), lead (25%), lead is commonly not employed in pharmaceuticals. If the metal is reactive with the product than a protective lining( lacquer) of wax or resins is deposited on the anterior of the tube to make it inert. Phenolic lining is good against acidic products while epoxides protect better against alkaline materials. 2. Plastic: the plastic tubes have no of advantages over the metal dispenser these include; 1. Low cost 2. Light weight 3. Durable 4. Pleasant to touch 5. Flexible 6. Odorless 7. Inert to most materials 8. leak proof 9. Able to retain their shape during use 10. They have unique property of suck back which prevents product ooze.

Rubber closures Rubber closures for containers for aqueous parenteral preparations for powders and for freeze-dried powders are made of materials obtained by vulcanization (cross-linking) of macromolecular organic substances (elastomers), with appropriate additives. Rubber closures may be classified in 2 types Type I closures: Are those which meet the strictest requirements and Type II closures: Are those which, having mechanical properties suitable for special uses (for example, multiple piercing), cannot meet requirements as severe as those for the first category because of their chemical composition. The closures chosen for use with a particular preparation are such that: The components of the preparation in contact with the closure are not adsorbed onto the surface of the closure and do not migrate into or through the closure to an extent sufficient to affect the preparation adversely. The closure does not yield to the preparation substances in quantities sufficient to affect its stability or to present a risk of toxicity. The closures are compatible with the preparation for which they are used throughout its period of validity. Characters Rubber closures are elastic, translucent or opaque and. They are practically insoluble in tetrahydrofuran, have a considerable reversible swelling property. They are homogeneous and practically free from fibres, foreign particles, waste rubber).

Lug Cap / Twist-Off Cap Crown Cap / Crown Corks                                                                                                              Press Fit Cap / Slip Cap Drum Seal / Cap Seal

Pilfer proof Cap Flip off Seal/Cap Screw Cap Child Cap