08-10-2023, 07:48 AM
Every pharmaceutical product out there has an Active pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) which is the most unstable when exposed to environmental factors. A packaging material must ensure that this ingredient remains stable until it is consumed by the user.
The stability of an API can be disbalanced with environmental factors like thermal spoil, oxidization, UV rays, microorganic infection and moisture ingress. In a lot of pharmaceutical tablets and capsules, there is an additional layer of ingestible coating that keeps moisture away from the core of the drug. There are several areas where a drug is fit for use even after getting in contact with moisture. There are painkillers used by dissolving in a cup of water.
But in addition to the features added to the pills, the pharmaceutical products need special protection and containment. More so when the active ingredient is highly unstable, which is the case with most high dose medications used for diseases like diabetes, cancer, and gastro-intestinal issues. So, when a medicine that is unstable to hydrolysis (getting altered by moisture), light, and any environmental change needs a 360° barrier against the slightest of moisture permeability, light and temperature changes. This is where a drug needs an aluminum layer in both base and lid, as it leads to containment and stability until the product lands in the hands of its end user.
The level of insulation a drug needs from the destabilizing factors can only be known with a tough stability test done with different blister sealing methods, machines and environments to match the humid and sunny conditions in economies like India, China, and Latin countries. So, if you’re supplying regular medication for seasonal illnesses, alu-alu packing might be a lot of work.
The stability of an API can be disbalanced with environmental factors like thermal spoil, oxidization, UV rays, microorganic infection and moisture ingress. In a lot of pharmaceutical tablets and capsules, there is an additional layer of ingestible coating that keeps moisture away from the core of the drug. There are several areas where a drug is fit for use even after getting in contact with moisture. There are painkillers used by dissolving in a cup of water.
But in addition to the features added to the pills, the pharmaceutical products need special protection and containment. More so when the active ingredient is highly unstable, which is the case with most high dose medications used for diseases like diabetes, cancer, and gastro-intestinal issues. So, when a medicine that is unstable to hydrolysis (getting altered by moisture), light, and any environmental change needs a 360° barrier against the slightest of moisture permeability, light and temperature changes. This is where a drug needs an aluminum layer in both base and lid, as it leads to containment and stability until the product lands in the hands of its end user.
The level of insulation a drug needs from the destabilizing factors can only be known with a tough stability test done with different blister sealing methods, machines and environments to match the humid and sunny conditions in economies like India, China, and Latin countries. So, if you’re supplying regular medication for seasonal illnesses, alu-alu packing might be a lot of work.