Packing Material

Foils:

Foils primarily act as barriers. Different types of foils serve as both base foil and lidding foil. The main role of foil is to protect the drug from moisture, light, and contamination from the external environment, etc. 

Examples of different types of foils based on composition:

  1. PVC foil
  2. PVC-PVDC foil
  3. PVC-PE-PVDC foil
  4. Cold-formable foil
  5. Aluminum foil
  6. Paper-backed aluminum foil
  7. ALU-ALU foil
  8. Cold-formable foil with desiccant 

The nature of the foil depends mainly on the drug’s characteristics and its compatibility. Other factors include the chemical composition of the drug, the environment to which it will be exposed, market requirements, and price, etc.

Properties of PVC film and Feature:

PVC films are the most popular plastic wraps that are made from Polyvinylidene Chloride (PVC). PVC films have excellent stretching properties that make them the most popular packaging films.

This PVC coating increases the barrier properties of the film and thus reduces the permeability of the film to oxygen and flavors. Therefore, PVC packaging extends the shelf life of the Product inside the package.

PVC films provide controlled oxygen and water vapour transmission. They operate satisfactorily on high-speed packing machines. These plastic films offer exceptionally good stretch and are easily heat-sealed.

PVC films are temperature sensitive, developing a tendency to shatter and split at cold temperatures and shrink back or block when exposed to high temperatures. The color may also change to yellow when exposed to heat. They are ideal for blister packing of tablets, capsules, needles, syringes, vials, ampoules, ointment tubes, suppository packs, etc.

 

Cold-Form Foils:

Cold-form foil serves as the bottom foil for blister-packed products requiring the highest barrier properties. The process involves cold forming the cavity, inserting the product, and covering the cavity with a suitable lidding foil.

Benefits:

  • Highly effective barrier to moisture and oxygen, even after cold forming.
  • Complete barrier to light.
  • High mechanical properties: Tension at break: 150 N/15mm (57 lb./inch).
  • Elongation at break: > 60%.
  • The specific performance characteristics of each layer make the foil extremely cold-formable.
  • High dimensional stability after cold forming.
  • Capable of handling various three-dimensional draw ratios, including applications with extreme deep draw requirements.

 

Closures and Containers:

The most commonly used and preferred containers are HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene) containers, while closures are primarily of the CT (Continuous Thread) and CRC (Child-Resistant Closure) plastic types.

  1. Drug product containers and closures shall not be reactive, additive, or absorptive so as to alter the safety, identity, strength, quality, or purity of the drug beyond the official or established requirements.
  2. Container closure systems shall provide adequate protection against foreseeable external factors in storage and use that can cause deterioration or contamination of the drug product. 

 

Cartons:

Cartons are the secondary Materials which have the details of the product/Material along with other info like Strength, Market, and Batch No: etc. these are generally Paper based Tuck in flap which helps to keep the blister Packs. Cartons are of different types – Printed, Plain, varnished etc. they give physical protection as well information to the patient.

 

Self-Adhesive Labels & Patient Information Leaflets:

Self-adhesive labels provide additional information, including material name, type, strength, manufacturer, batch number, lot number, etc., and are primarily used for bottle packaging. Along with material descriptions, Patient Information Leaflets (PILs) provide information about how the drug works, possible symptoms, side effects (if any), and instructions for use.