Pharmaceutical suspensions for oral use are generally packed in wide-mouth containers having adequate space above the liquid to ensure proper mixing.
Parenteral suspensions are packed in either glass ampoules or vials.
Ideal Requirements of Packaging Material
• It should be inert.
• It should effectively preserve the product from light,
air, and other contamination through shelf life.
• It should be cheap.
• It should effectively deliver the product without any
difficulty.
Materials Used For Packaging
Generally, glass and various grades of plastics are used in the
packaging of suspension.
Glass
Generally, soda lime and borosilicate glass are used in the preparation
of non-sterile suspensions. Amber glass
does not allow UV light to pass through. Amber characteristics can be developed
in the glass by the addition of various types of additives.
Disadvantages of Glass Materials
• They are fragile.
• They are very heavy as compared to plastic so handling and
transport are difficult.
• The most important disadvantage of glass is that glass
constituents get extracted into the product.
Plastic
Due to the negative aspects of glass, plastic material
significantly use of plastic as packaging material for sterile as well as
non-sterile pharmaceutical suspension increased.
Advantages of Plastic Material
Materials used: Polyethylene, Poly Vinylene Chloride,
Polystyrene, Polycarbonate etc.
Closure and Liners
With the exception of ampoules, all containers required
elastomeric closure.
Factors affecting in selecting closure
• Compatibility with product
• Seal integrity
• It should be stable throughout the shelf life
Factors affecting in selecting a liner
• Chemical resistance
• Appearance
• Gas and vapour transmission
• Removal torque
• Heat resistance
• Shelf life
• Economical factors