Introduction

Pharmaceutical packaging is an important part of a pharmaceutical industry.

Packaging not only affects the quality and stability of any pharmaceutical product but also helps in the product identification.
It provides

An adequate degree of protection
Minimize the loss of content
Should not interact physically or chemically with the contents in a way that will alter their quality to an extent beyond the limits given in the individual monograph, or present a risk of toxicity.

Pharmaceutical packaging is the means of providing

Protection
Presentation
Identification
Information and
Convenience to encourage compliance with a course of therapy.

The commonly used packaging materials are

Container
Closure
Carton or Outer and
Box

The containers may be made of

Glass
Plastic
Metal
Paper

The material for closure may include

Cork
Glass
Plastic
Metal
Rubber

There are various tests for determination of quality, integrity and compatibility of packaging materials. The specification and requirement of quality testing depends on type of pharmaceutical materials used.Containers are tested by many methods of which commonly used test for glass are

Crushed glass test
Whole-Container test
Chemical resistance of test
Water Attack Test etc.

Similarly test. Closure materials are tested by

Transparency test
Penetrability
Fragmentation test
Self seal ability test,
Extractive test etc.

The requirement of packaging material testing is set according to specification of regulatory agencies like WHO GMP, USFDA and ICH guidelines.

Packaging is a process by which the pharmaceuticals are suitably packed so that they should retain their therapeutic effectiveness from the time of packaging till they are consumed. Packaging may be defined as the art and science which involves preparing the articles for transport, storage display and use. Pharmaceutical packaging is the means of providing protection, presentation, identification, information and convenience to encourage compliance with a course of therapy.

Components of Package:

A. Container
B. Closure
C. Carton or Outer
D. Box

Procedure for Package Testing

It may be classified into two groups according to whether the test is applied to the packaging material in isolation or to the entire package.
1. Testing material
Tests applied to packaging materials may be:

Chemical - pH value of materials chloride and sulphate in paper or board, alkalinity of glass, compatibility test with chemicals or medicaments are typical of the chemical tests.
Mechanical-Standard tests are available for the effect of creasing, folding and so on.
Environmental-Materials may be tested by standard methods for absorption of water, permeability to water vapour, gases, oils, odours etc. and for characteristics such as light transmission.

2. Testing Packages

Mechanical – Mechanical tests are applied mainly to outer packaging for protection from transportation hazards. They consist of the use of a standardized test procedure to compare the effect of different protective materials to prevent damage to the contents.
Environmental- Packages are subjected to conditions that reproduce the environment and some evaluation is made at suitable intervals. Such procedures may be applied to testing closures for water vapour transmission.

Hazards Encountered by a Package

Mechanical hazards – shock, compression, puncture, vibration etc.
Environmental hazards-temperature, pressure, moisture, gases, light, contamination etc.

There are various tests to ensure that the resultant product will comply with its specification. Tests applied to the environment or to equipment, as well as to products in process, may also be regarded as a part of in-process control.

Principle instrumental techniques Employed For Packaging Controls

Spectrophotometry
Chromatographic Methods
Thermal analysis techniques
Gas transmission analysis
Leak detection
Physical test methods
X-ray Fluorescence Analysis

Ideal Properties of Good Package

An ideal package should have following properties

Hold the product without loss on account of leakage, spoilage or permeation.
Protect against environmental conditions like light, air and moisture during storage.
Impermeable for gases.
Sufficient strength to withstand shocks of handling, transportation etc.
Facilitate efficient safe and convenient use of contents.
Material must not interact with the contents.
Containers should afford protection from moulds, bacteria etc.
Cost of material should be as low as possible without compromising the quality.
Allows easily identification of products.
Afford protection from moulds, bacteria etc.
Container should not absorb or adsorb any material containing.
Closure should provide air tight closing to the container.
Closure should be compatible with the product.

Quality Control of Containers

A container for a pharmacopoeial article is intended to contain a drug substance or drug product with which it is, or may be in direct contact. The closure is a part of the container.
Containers must be chosen with care and after taking into consideration the nature of the articles and the likely effects of transportation and storage, even for short periods of time.
A container should be designed so that the contents may be removed in a manner suitable for the intended use of the article in it. It should also provide an adequate degree of protection, minimize the loss of constituents and should not interact physically or chemically with the contents in a way that will alter their quality to an extent beyond the limits given in the individual monograph, or present a risk of toxicity.

Airtight container

It 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 once, it must be so designed that it remains airtight after re-closure.

Hermetically Sealed container

It is impervious to air or any other gas under normal conditions of handling, shipment, storage and distribution, e.g. sealed glass ampoule, gas cylinder etc.

Light-resistant container

It protects the contents from the effects of actinic light by virtue of the specific properties of the material of which it is made.

Multidose container

It holds a quantity of the preparation suitable for two or more doses.

Sealed container

A container closed by fusion of the material of the container.

Single-dose container

It holds a quantity of the preparation intended for total or partial use as a single administration.

Tamper-evident container

A container fitted with a device or mechanism that reveals irreversibly whether the container has been opened.

Tightly-closed container

Protects the contents from contamination by extraneous liquids, solids or vapours, from loss or deterioration of the article from effervescence, deliquescence or evaporation under normal conditions of handling, shipment, storage and distribution. A tightly-closed container must be capable of being tightly re- closed after use.

Well-closed container

Protects the contents from extraneous solids and liquids and from loss of the article under normal conditions of handling, shipment, storage and distribution.