APPLICATION OF

POLYMERS IN PACKAGING

AND MEDICAL

PROSTHETICS

Presented by,

Hinglajia Hetal Ratilal

Roll no.2

M.Pharm- Pharmaceutics, Sem-1

Guided by, Dr. R.P.Patel

SOLID PRODUCTS

SEMI-SOLID PRODUCT

LIQUID PRODUCTS

UNIT PACKS

CHILD RESISTANCE PACKAGING

TEMPER RESISTANCE PACKAGING

TYPES OF PACKAGING

Solid dosages form such as tablets and capsules are by far the

most commonly used today.

Traditionally they have been packed in bottles, originally made

from glass but latterly from various plastics.

The walls of the container are usually amber or completely

opaque to minimize the possibility of photo degradation.

Powder or granules have a variety of role when used as a final

dosage form.

They usually packed as single dosages in flexible sachets.

SOLID PRODUCTS

The relevant characteristics of these products for packaging

purpose are that they are often too viscous to flow but contain a

sufficient amount of water to be classified as “wet ” products.

Semi solid product include creams, emulsions, gels or ointments.

Flexible tubes are frequently used to contain semi solids.

These can be made from aluminium or plastic such as

polyethylene.

SEMI-SOLID PRODUCT

Traditionally glass has been the material of choice for the

packaging of liquid but a variety of plastics is now widely used

providing they have little or no permeability to the liquid

LIQUID PRODUCTS

?

Least expensive

than glasses

Ease of transport

ation

No risk of breakage

Flexible

Light in weight

WHY POLYMERS??

WIDELY USED POLYMERS IN PACKAGING

This is used as high and low density polyethylene.

Low density polyethylene (LDPE) is preferred plastic for

squeeze bottles.

Properties: Ease of processing , barrier to moisture, strength /toughness,

flexibility, ease of sealing.

High density poly ethylene(HDPE) is less permeable to gases

and more resistant to oils, chemicals and solvents.

Properties: Stiffness, strength / toughness, resistance to chemicals. It is

widely used in bottles for solid dosage forms.

Drawback: Prone to stress cracking in the presence of surfactants or

vegetable or mineral oils.

POLYETHYLENE

It has good resistance to cracking when flexed.

Good resistance to heat sterilization.

It is colorless, odorless thermoplastic material with excellent tensile

properties even at high temperature.

Excellent resistance to strong acids and alkalis.

Low permeability to water vapor.

Permeability to gases is intermediate between polyethylene HD and

un-plasticized PVC

Suitable for use in closures , tablet containers and intravenous

bottles.

POLYPROPYLENE

Versatility, insulation, clarity, easily foamed (“Styrofoam”) .

It is also used for jars for ointments and creams with low water

content.

Drawback: Chemicals like isopropyl myristate produce crazing(a

fine network of surface cracks) followed by weakening and

eventually collapsible of the container.

POLYSTYRENE

Versatility , ease of blending, strength / toughness, resistance to

grease/oil, resistance to chemicals, clarity.

Used as rigid packaging material and main component of

intravenous bags.

Drawback: Poor impact resistance which can be improved by

adding elastomers to the plastics but it will increase its

permeability.

POLYVINYL CHLORIDE

Excellent barrier properties against : moisture, water vapor, UV light,

aroma, inorganic acids, alkalis, aqueous salt solutions, organic water

soluble acids, aliphatic hydrocarbons , esters of long chain fatty acids,

detergent base materials, emulsifying agents and wetting agents.

Good thermoform ability.

PVDC is very cost-effective, as coating weight can be customized

depending on the requirements of the barrier properties.

Medical grade and non-toxic.

High levels of transparency which improves the aesthetics of the product.

POLY VINYLEDENE CHLORIDE

MEDICAL PROSTHETICS

Artificial substitute for a missing part of the body.. The

medical specialty that deals with prostheses is called Medical

prosthetics.

WHAT IS MEDICAL PROSTHETICS?

Biocompatible

Bio inert

Bioactive

Biodegradable

IDEAL PROPERTIES FOR MEDICAL

PROSTHETICS

Applications and uses:

Containers, packaging

films, pouches, lid stock, breather patches, and headers for bags.

UHMWPE is used as the wear bearing surface of hip and knee

arthroplasty andtotal joint replacement.

POLYETHYLENE

Applications and uses:

Homopolymer: Thermoforming, slit film and oriented fibres, high

clarity, syringes, and closures, sutures, drapes, and gowns.

Random copolymer: Food, household chemicals, beauty aid

products, clear containers, and hot fill applications.

Impact copolymers: Film, sheet, profiles, high pressure resistance,

medical trays, and thin wall parts.

POLYPROPYLENE

Applications and uses:

General purpose: Diagnostic instruments and disposable

laboratory ware, Petri dishes, tissue culture components, flasks,

and pipettes.

Oriented: Oriented polystyrene fi lms can be printed and

laminated to foams for food service plates and trays offering

improved aesthetics. The fi lms can also be used as a laminate to

polystyrene sheet for a high-gloss shine.

High impact: Laboratory ware and other medical devices.

POLYSTYRENE

Applications and uses:

Liquid crystalline polymer: Sterilizable trays, dental tools,

and surgical instruments, surgical device control cables,

surgical tubing, cannula, films.

PBT: Packaging, syringe pump component, dental

instruments, miniature scalpel blade holders, melt blown for

liquid filtration applications, high temperature caps.

POLYESTER

Applications and uses: Commercially available

biodegradable devices are employed in sutures, orthopaedic

fixation devises, dental implants, ligature clips, tissue

staples, and skin covering devices; stents, dialysis media, and

drug-delivery devices.

It is also being evaluated as a material for tissue engineering

POLYESTER(PLA & OTHER BIOSORBABLE PLASTICS)

Applications and uses:

Medical apparatus (sterilizable), reservoirs, high-pressure syringes,

artery cannulas, stopcocks, lures, centrifugal force separators, blood

filter housings, dialyzer housings; glucose meters, pumps, insuline

pens; surgical devise handles and housings.

POLYCARBONATE

Applications and uses:

• Rigid PVC: lure connectors and Y-sites.

• Flexible PVC: secondary packaging, blister packs, solution

containers, fluid transport tubes, drip chambers, diaphragms,

pull rings, oxygen facemasks, and gloves.

POLYVINYL CHLORIDE

Applications and uses:

Clear, disposable plastics— only glass transmits light as well;

chest drainage units, medical spikes, breathing apparatus

accessories, urological accessories, Y-sites, check valves, filter

housings, IV adaptors, IV pump housings, medical cassettes,

blood handling components, and catheter accessories

POLYETHERSULFONE

Applications and uses: Soft contact lenses, wound dressings,

drug delivery

HYDROGEL (ACRYLATE)

Polysulfone

Applications: Membranes and fluid handling applications and MPU

couplings.

Applications and uses:

Catheters, valves, needleless syringes, surgical instruments,

wound dressing and tape, shunts, drug patches, medical bags,

and tubing

THERMOPLASTIC ELASTOMERS

(TPE, TPU)

Applications and uses:

Prostheses, artificial organs, facial reconstruction, catheters,

artificial skin, drug-delivery systems, contact lenses.

THERMOSET ELASTOMERS—

SILICONE

Applications and uses:

block copolymer structure

good mechanical properties

good biocompatibility

tubing, vascular grafts, pacemaker lead insulation, heart assist

balloon pumps

POLYURETHANES

Lachman leon, Lieberman Herbert A., Kanig Joseph L., “The

theory & practice of industrial pharmacy” published by

Varghese publishing house, bombay, 3 rd edition,1991,pg no.

711-732

www.slideshare.com

Laurence W. McKeen, “Handbook of Polymer Application in

medical devises” by Elseviar Publication, Chapter-3, pg

no.21-49

www.britannica.com

www.wikipedia.com

REFERENCES