MATERIALS
Blister packages offer a wide array of designs both in functionality and in appearance. Various packaging materials are used to create blisters that are tailored to provide optimum performance. The blister container consists of two components: the blister, which is the formed cavity that holds the product, and the lid stock, which is the material that seals to the blister, as shown below.
Because of the variety of blister films available, film selection should be based upon the degree of protection required. The choice of lid stock depends on how the blister is to be used, but generally the lid stock is made of aluminum foil. The material used to form the cavity is typically a plastic, which can be designed to protect the dosage form from moisture. There are widely varying degrees of moisture protection now available. For purposes of this general chapter, they are referred to as nominal, medium, high, and extreme moisture barrier properties.
Polyvinyl Chloride
The most commonly used blister material is polyvinyl chloride (PVC). This material, which provides a nominal or zero barrier to moisture, is used when the product does not require effective moisture protection. PVC is available in a range of gauges and can be made opaque or can be tinted with pigments to block out specific light wavelengths.
The thickness of the PVC used is determined by the depth and size of the cavity to be formed. Because the plastic thins during the blister-forming process, care should be taken to ensure that the finished blister provides sufficient protection from light (if required) and that it is strong enough to adequately protect the dosage form. Common gauges of PVC used in the pharmaceutical industry range from 7.5 to 15 mil (0.0075 to 0.015 inch).
Barrier Films
Many drug preparations are extremely sensitive to moisture and therefore require high barrier films. Several materials may be used to provide moisture protection. Barrier films commonly used in the pharmaceutical industry are described below.
PVC/PCTFE Laminations
Polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE) film
1 is a thermoplastic film made from polychlorotrifluoroethylene fluoropolymer. The PCTFE film is laminated to the PVC by an adhesive layer between the PVC and the PCTFE film (duplex structure)
or by a layer of polyethylene (PE) between the PVC-adhesive and the PCTFE-adhesive layers (triplex structure).
By using various gauges of the PCTFE film,
medium to
extreme moisture barriers can be obtained.
PVC/PVdC Laminations
PVC/PVdC is a film in which the PVC is coated with an emulsion of polyvinylidene chloride (PVdC).
The PVdC layer is specified in g per m
2 and can be constructed to provide
medium to
high barrier protection. The coating weights commonly used in the pharmaceutical industry are 40, 60, and 90 g per m
2, and the film is offered with or without a middle layer of polyethylene (PE). The polyethylene is used with heavier coating weights, such as 60 and 90 g per m
2, to improve the thermoforming characteristics of the blister cavity.
Polypropylene
Because of its morphology, polypropylene (PP) serves as a good moisture barrier, its spherulitic structure creating an arduous path for water molecules to traverse. Although not commonly used as a pharmaceutical blister film in the U.S., PP provides an economical alternative to medium barrier materials and is used in Europe as an alternative to PVC.
Cold Form Foil
This material is used for products that are extremely hygroscopic or light sensitive. It is an extreme moisture barrier and consists of three layers: PVC, aluminum foil, and nylon.
Lid Stock
Lid stock is sealed to the molded blister as described above. Different designs of lid stocks are available, and selection of a particular design depends on how the package will be used. Standard designspeelable, child-resistant peelable, and push-throughare described below. The primary component of lid stock is typically aluminum, and its gauge varies from 18 to 25 µm (0.0078 to 0.001 inch). The side of the aluminum foil laminate in contact with the product provides the heat-sealable layer that forms the seal to the blister material. The heat-seal coating should be capable of forming an adequate seal with the blister film to which it is intended to seal. The materials used in the makeup of the heat-seal layer meet 21 CFR 175 and 177.
Peelable
Peelable foil, commonly used in an institutional setting, consists of several layers, as shown below, and can be peeled away from the blister.
[NOTEFor child-resistant peelable foil, a layer of polyester with the appropriate adhesives would be added.
] With the peelable foil lid stock, which is used in conjunction with blister tooling, a three-step process is required to open the blister.
First, the blister cavity must be separated from the rest of the blister card. Next, the paper and polyester layers are pulled back from an unsealed area. Finally, the product is pushed through the remaining aluminum foil. It is important to note that use of this type of foil structure helps make the package more child resistant. However, if child-resistant packaging is required, the package design should be tested in accordance with the protocol described in 16 CFR 1700, the Poison Prevention Packaging Act.
Push-Through
There are two commonly used types of push-through foil: one with a paper outer layer separated from the aluminum by a layer of adhesive and one without paper.
The paper outer layer serves as an aesthetic and makes it possible to print on the back of the blister.
Other Package Styles
Other types of packages used for unit-dose packaging of solid dosage forms are strip packs, pouches, and sachets.
PROCESS
Unit-dose packages can be formed and sealed in a variety of ways. Larger scale repackagers may use thermoformers that accomplish these functions in-line, while smaller repackagers may purchase preformed blister material. This section begins with an overview of the process involved in thermoforming a blister, the fundamental process that also applies to other unit-dose package types such as pouches. The overview is not intended to be all-encompassing, but it highlights the major operations along with their critical parameters.
Thermoforming a Blister Unit-Dose Package
The complete thermoforming process consists of four basic stations where the following operations occur: forming, filling, sealing, and finishing. Thermoforming requires the use of heat and air in forming the blister. The lid stock material is sealed to the blister cavity material for a defined time (the stroke of the machine) at the point where the heat plate closes on the two materials.
Forming Station
Prior to entering the forming station, the blister material passes through a heating unit where the blister material is heated uniformly in stages to ensure proper formation. Because different plastics have different softening points, careful attention must be paid to determining the proper temperature of the heating station, which often has multiple temperature zones. The temperature, based on the blister material used and on the speed at which that material travels through the heating station, is a critical parameter for optimal performance. At the forming station the blister material is heated to the point where the plastic softens sufficiently to allow the cavity to be formed. The blister material is drawn from a reel-mounted roll (referred to as the web) and pulled through the machine. A splicing table is located at the reel unwind to provide room for a second roll of blister material to be readily available for splicing and resumption of the packaging process. An unwind device may be installed to aid in moving the blister material from the roll as adjusted for a specific index.
Once the blister material is properly heated, compressed air is generally used to form the blister cavity. Upper and lower forming dies close on the blister material as air is introduced, forming a blister that corresponds to the size of the cavity. A plug assist may be necessary, depending on the material and size of the cavity. The plug assist ensures a uniform thinning of the blister material to optimize the protective characteristics of the formed material. Once the blister material is formed into the desired blister configuration, it is advanced to the filling station.
Filling Station
The product is loaded into the blister cavity at this station. An automated filling device may be used, or the cavities may be hand filled. The critical parameter at this station is proper filling of the formed blisters.
Sealing Station
At this station, the lid stock is sealed to the filled blister cavity, using heat and pressure for a defined dwell time. The critical parameters to be considered at this station are temperature, pressure, and dwell time.
The lid stock material is staged on a roll above the blister cavity and may be preprinted or printed on-line. Lot numbers and expiration dates may be applied at this point. Preprinted lid stock materials will require a print registration system to control the position of the printing relative to the blister cavity. The critical parameters at this part of the station include legible and correct labeling.
Finishing Station
The finishing station encompasses all other steps in the packaging process, including embossing, perforation, and cutting. Embossing involves application of a lot number and expiration date to the package. Steel type is used to emboss information on the edges of the blister package. One of the critical parameters at this station is package integrity. It is important that the embossing, perforation, and cutting processes do not compromise the blister, lid, or seal. The quality of the embossing is another critical parameter in the process. The embossing must be legible, and correct and must include all required information.
Pouch Unit-Dose Packages
The pouch process is also a form, fill, and seal operation, but it does not provide a defined, formed cavity as does the thermoforming process. Although the equipment used to form pouch unit-dose packages may function differently from that described for thermoforming a blister, the main operations (form, fill, and seal) and critical parameters at those stations are quite similar.
[NOTESee the aforementioned critical parameters defined in the section on thermoforming.
]
The strip-pack process involves the drug product being dosed into a three-sided, formed pouch. Once filled with the drug, the machine seals the pouch, forming a strip of sealed unit-dose pouches. The basic flow of the process begins with the drug situated above the pouch material. One roll of strip-pack material is used to form the pouch. This is accomplished by moving the material over a device that forces the material to fold into two equal sides. The sides and bottom are sealed prior to dosing. The strip pack may be cut later during the equipment processing or roll continuously and be manually cut. Temperature and dwell time are the main critical factors for this equipment.
Preformed Unit-Dose Packages
Preformed containers are sealed either by heat or by adhesion. Heat sealers may be manual units requiring hand pressure application or automated units that provide a more controlled pressure for sealing.
Heat sealing may be accomplished through the use of manual tabletop equipment. This equipment is generally operated at a set pressure. Critical parameters with these devices are pressure and temperature control because undesirable variation in these parameters may yield inadequate seals.
Critical Parameters
In order to ensure that the finished container performs as intended, qualification of critical parameters should be determined. Typically, validation of a packaging line consists of qualification of the installation, operation, and performance of a packaging system.
Installation Qualification
Equipment should be installed and found to be in proper working condition prior to use.
Operation Qualificational
Operational qualification should be performed to establish that the equipment operates within the manufacturer's specified ranges. Incoming utilities for the equipment, such as air, electricity, etc., should be monitored and checked periodically.
Performance Qualification
Performance qualification should be done to ensure that the equipment is performing properly with the required materials to produce a container that functions as intended. The critical parameters include forming temperature and pressure, sealing temperature and pressure, and dwell time at the seal station. Qualified ranges should be readily available in a reference source for the setup of equipment. Re-evaluation may be necessary with changes to equipment, materials, or the process.
In-Process Inspections
Strict controls covering the packaging and labeling processes should be in place. The final container should be evaluated for performance in each of the stations described above. Specifically, the formed container should be inspected visually to ensure that it is properly formed. Evaluation of the filling station should include a check to ensure that the unit dose is properly filled (i.e., that the correct product is present). The sealing station should be evaluated to ensure that a proper seal has been made and that the moisture permeation specifications of the sealed container have been met. A visual examination of the package should be performed to ensure that the final steps of the packaging process are acceptable.
Repackagers and dispensers should use a standard inspection plan to verify the adequacy of the package. A visual inspection should be performed to verify that the correct product is in the proper packaging materials with correct labeling. Seal integrity should be evaluated, using vacuum testing,
2 helium testing, tear testing, and other testing methods suitable to establish whether seal integrity is maintained.
PERFORMANCE
The primary purpose of the unit-dose package used in the packaging of a drug preparation is to ensure that until its intended expiration date there is adequate protection from the environment as the dosage form is distributed and stored. It is also essential that the materials used do not interact with the dosage form.
When determining what type of package to use in the repackaging operation, consideration must be given to the dosage form's sensitivities (if any) to the storage and distribution environments (e.g., temperature, light, and moisture).
The materials used in constructing the unit-dose container as well as the process of forming and sealing the container all together define the properties of the finished container. As discussed in Materials, there is a wide variety of commercially available film structures that provide unit-dose containers with a range of moisture and light protection. Suppliers of these materials typically provide quantitative data, obtained from well-established test methods, to highlight the protective properties of their material. These data are based on flat sheets of the film, not on the formed container.
It is critical to understand that once the film is formed, protective properties change because the overall thickness of the film decreases as the blister cavity is formed. Usually the change is a decrease, especially in the case of barrier properties. However, the extent of change will vary with the type of film structure used and is also highly dependent on the container-forming process used (see Process). Further, a suboptimal seal on the formed container will decrease the protective properties of the container. Insufficient temperature, time, or pressure during a heat-seal operation may enable the passage of moisture or oxygen through the seal area over time, which may have an effect on the dosage form. In addition, if the seal area is designed with insufficient surface area, the same problem may occur. To ensure a good seal, a minimum sealing distance of 3 mm from the edge of the blister cavity to the nearest edge or perforation is recommended. Therefore, it is important to measure the performance of the formed and sealed container rather than the performance of the flat sheet.
Moisture is a critical factor in preparation integrity.
ContainersPermeation 671 describes how to determine and classify moisture permeation rates. If the manufacturer's labeling includes Protect From Moisture, the repackager shall utilize a high barrier film.
If light protection is required for a drug preparation, the repackager should follow the requirements for light transmission established under
Containers 661. Again, this testing should be conducted on the formed container, because the light protective properties of the film are compromised once the film is thinned during the forming process. It is recommended that these tests, in conjunction with any guidance provided by the manufacturer, be considered appropriate for any containerclosure system used in repackaging a drug preparation.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
The previous sections serve as a general introduction to repackaging by providing a basic understanding of materials selection, the form-fill-seal process, and the importance of performance of the sealed container. In this section, certain minimum requirements for repackaging, which must be met, are described in more detail.
Personnel
Each person with responsibility for the repackaging of a preparation shall have the education, training, and experience, or any combination thereof, to perform assigned functions in a manner such that the safety, identity, strength, quality, purity, potency, and pharmaceutical elegance of the drug dosage form are retained. Training should be documented.
Personnel engaged in the repackaging of a preparation shall wear clean clothing appropriate for the duties or processes performed.
Facility
The repackaging facility may require areas of low relative humidity, and temperature conditions should meet controlled room temperature requirements specified in the General Notices.
Equipment
Equipment used in the repackaging of a preparation shall be of appropriate design and suitably located to facilitate operations for its intended use. Its design should allow for cleaning to preclude cross-contamination as well as for maintenance to be performed. Equipment shall be constructed so that those surfaces that contact components or a preparation are not reactive, additive, or absorptive.
Any substances required for operation, such as lubricants or coolants, shall not come into contact with components or a preparation.
Equipment and utensils shall be cleaned, maintained, and sanitized at appropriate intervals to prevent malfunctions or contamination. Preventive maintenance should be performed at appropriate intervals in accordance with the equipment manufacturer's recommendation. Any instruments used to monitor critical parameters should be calibrated on a defined schedule.
Process
Steps should be taken to determine the critical process parameters (e.g., seal temperature, dwell time) in operating the equipment. Set points for these parameters should be documented and procedures established to ensure that they are adhered to each time the equipment is operated.
Labeling
The labeling requirements for a commercial repackager and a pharmacist are different. For example, the commercial repackager must comply with 21 CFR 201.1, but the pharmacist or dispenser does not have to comply with this requirement. If stability data are unavailable, the dispenser shall repackage only an amount of stock sufficient for a limited time and shall include product name and strength, lot number, manufacturer, and appropriate beyond-use date on the label. When quantities are repackaged in advance of immediate needs, each preparation must bear an identifying label, and the dispenser is required to maintain suitable repackaging records showing the name of the manufacturer, lot number, expiration date, date of repackaging, and designation of persons responsible for repackaging and for checking. The repackager or dispenser will use documented controls to prevent labeling errors.
Materials
The repackager or dispenser shall place an appropriate beyond-use date on the label and package in appropriate materials. Materials used by the repackager shall not be reactive, additive, or absorptive, and must meet the requirements described in 21 CFR 175 and 177.
Storage
The dispenser shall rotate and monitor stock closely to ensure that the dispensing of preparations is on a first-infirst-out (FIFO) basis. The repackager or dispenser shall store preparations under required environmental conditions (e.g., controlled room temperature with a mean kinetic temperature not higher than 25
).
Drug Product
The repackager or dispenser shall examine preparations for evidence of instability such as change in color or odor, and shall exercise professional judgment as to the acceptability of a package.
Complaints
The repackager or dispenser will maintain written procedures describing the handling of written and oral complaints regarding a drug product and will ensure that complaints are investigated and appropriately resolved.
Returned Goods
Policies and procedures relating to returned goods should be developed to ensure proper handling.
Reprocessing
Reprocessing of repackaged unit-dose containers (i.e., removing medication from one unit-dose container and placing it into another unit-dose container) shall not be done. However, reprocessing of the secondary package (e.g., removing the blister card from the cardboard carrier and placing the blister card into another cardboard carrier) is allowed provided the original beyond-use date is maintained, and provided the integrity of the blister is ensured.
Special Considerations
If a product is known to be oxygen sensitive or if it exhibits extreme moisture or light sensitivity (e.g., cold form foil), it shall not be repackaged. If a product is refrigerated, it shall not be repackaged unless proper environmental conditions and suitable materials are available. Certain drug products (such as oncologic agents, hormones, or penicillin derivatives) require special handling because they are considered very potent or toxic, and because transfer of any portion of these products to another product could have deleterious effects.