Unit-Dose Packaging Offers Special Benefits

Unit-Dose Packaging Offers Special Benefits

by Steve Dilts

Unit-dose packaging of nutritional products offers manyimportant benefits, such as dosage control and preservation of the activeingredients until time of use. Unit-dosing of tablets and powders is wellestablished in several forms. However, more recently, many manufacturers areplacing their active ingredients in liquid form, often in aqueous solutions,because the uptake is faster than in solid form. For these products, unit-dosepackaging presents several challenges.

Gelatin capsules and glass vials have long been available forliquids. However, the limitations of these packages have presented the need forother choices. For example, aqueous solutions are frequently incompatible withgelatin capsules, and glass vials are relatively costly and prone to breakage inshipment. In addition, some packaging processes involve high temperatures thatdegrade the active ingredients.

Plastic unit-dose containers may offer a better alternative.Unicep Packaging, for example, offers MicroDose and Twist-Tip vials. Bothcontainers are manufactured via Unicep's proprietary in-lineModified-Blow-Fill-Seal system. The unique process avoids high-temperatureexposure during packaging, thus leaving the bulk solution unaltered. For liquidsuspensions, the bulk container can be agitated to keep suspended solids insolution.

The dispensers offer particular benefits from their material tothe special sizing. For instance, MicroDose dispensers have a dispensing tipthat can be used for controlled application of topical products or as a droppermechanism. This may also aid in administering liquids under the tongue ordelivering site-specific topically applied products. In contrast, the Twist-Tipvial is similar to a small bottle, with a large reservoir topped by a twist-offtab; the vial can be used for oral or topical products.

Regardless of the type of packaging, unit-dose containers can bedecorated to deliver a message. Decorating options include ink-jet printing orfull-wrap pressure sensitive labels. Secondary packaging choices includeform-fill-seal pouches, bags, folding cartons, blister packs or plasticclamshells.

Steve Dilts is director of marketing of Sandpoint,Idaho-based Unicep Packaging, an FDA-licensed manufacturer and packager ofdental, medical, cosmetic and nutritional products. The company can be contactedat (208) 265-9696 or www.unicep.com.

Unicep Packaging

SANDPOINT,Idaho--Contract packager Unicep Packaging Inc. introduced Twist-Tipvials for orally or topically dosed gels and liquids. The pre-filled one-pieceplastic vials include an integral twist-off tab. Once opened, the user squeezesor pours to dispense. Sizes range from 0.2 ml to 10 ml with custom sizesavailable. FDA, GMP, ISO9001. Contact Unicep at (208) 265-9696.