Nanotechnology is all set to play a larger role in pharmaceutical packaging by bringing in innovative and new generation packaging solutions to the market. While nanotechnology is about very small materials, the impact it will have on pharmaceutical packaging will be very large, growing 16.5 per cent annually, from 2009's $3.8 billion to $8.1 billion by 2014. Nano-enabled blister packaging alone will be a $2.1 billion market by then according to a recent report from iRap Inc.
While the North America market for nano-enabled packaging in pharma is expected to grow from $1.08 billion in 2008 to $2.03 billion by 2014,the European market is likely to grow from $1.15 billion to $1.46 billion.
Basic categories of nanotechnology applications and functionalities appear in development of pharma packaging in terms of enhancement of plastic materials’ barriers, incorporation of active components that can deliver functional attributes beyond those of conventional active packaging and sensing and signalling of relevant information.
The global market for nano-enabled packaging for blisters was $941 million in 2008 and is expected to grow to $2.10 billion by 2014.The demand for blister packaging is set to grow owing to adaptability to unit dose, clinical trial, compliance, institutional and over-the-counter drugs. Advances in the changeover features of processing machinery will also benefit growth by making blister packaging more cost-effective in small volume drug applications.
Owing to performance advantages in drug delivery and new bioengineered medicines, pre-fillable inhalers and syringes is likely to get a booster shot. Plastic bottles will sustain the largest share of global demand based on low cost, versatility, availability, and quality/design improvements.
The iRap Inc report says new drug delivery systems and biochemical compounds are driving a need for enhanced moisture, light, oxygen, and mechanical protection, as well as forms of packaging that play a more integral role in the drug delivery process. Functionalities include enhanced plastic material barriers, active components that offer functions beyond those currently offered, and the sensing and signalling of relevant information.
It asserts that demand for pharma blister packaging will grow as it adapts to unit dosage, clinical trials, compliance, institutional and OTC drugs, and that improved changeover features in processing machinery will make it more cost-efficient in smaller-volume products.
Major changes in pharmaceutical products -- from drug delivery systems to new biochemical compounds -- are giving rise to new applications for nanotechnology not only in their creation and capabilities, but also how they are packaged, the report adds.
The advent of drug delivery systems and new compounds have resulted in a need not only for enhanced protection against various environmental factors but also opens the door for packaging to play a more integral role in drug delivery, e.g. stability and shelf life, the report says.
Basic categories of nanotech applications and functionalities appear in development of pharmaceutical packaging in several ways: enhancing plastic material barriers, incorporating active components to deliver functional attributes beyond conventional active packaging, and sensing/signalling relevant information.
Adding nanoparticles into shaped objects and films can make them lighter, fire-resistant, less gas-permeable, and with improved mechanical and thermal performance. New pharma packaging could also improve drug safety by controlling microbial growth, delaying oxidation, and improving tamper visibility and anti-counterfeiting.
According to some estimates,more than $18 billion was invested in nanotechnology R&D in 2008 by governments and corporations worldwide, with substantial portions in the areas of health and medicine. With an ageing population and rising costs of healthcare, the focus is shifting from managing health to preventative measures. Preventative technologies, such as better diagnostic nano devices is expected to be in high demand.
An area of healthcare where nanotechnology has made its greatest contributions is cancer. Nanotechnology is enabling new applications in the areas of molecular imaging and early detection, in vivo imaging, reporters of efficacy, multifunctional therapeutics and research tools.
Drug delivery is an important area where nanotechnology has made significant contributions. Today's drugs have issues such as systemic and non-specific delivery, side effects and the need for organic solvents. With nanotechnology, however, advances have been made towards improved localised delivery of drugs to tumour sites, improved efficacy and reduced side effects.
The key benefits of the technology include, among others, improved biocompatibility, increased absorption rate, dose reduction, faster formulation of compounds, increased performance through variable administration routes .
Significant advances have also been made in diagnostics, through the identification of specific disease biomarkers and non-invasive imaging. The launch of several commercially viable nanotechnology-based products is the greatest achievement made during the past five to 10 years in the field of nanotechnology. The biggest contribution of the technology to date has probably been in diagnostics, with the miniaturisation of devices along with developments in analytical instrumentation.
The majority of the challenges facing the wide-scale development of nanotechnology relate to their unique distribution characteristics, physical chemistry, manufacturing processes and drug product characterisation.
According to some experts, the next phase is the further development of parenteral nano-based products. Especially parenteral nanotechnology products with high drug payloads holds good potential. Future could also see combining the concept of nano-sizing with other new approaches, such as tissue targeting and permeation enhancement. The era of nanotechnology is alive and kicking in the pharmaceutical industry.