Plastic alternative to Type 1 glass

The injection blow-moulded containers are available in capacities from 3 to 250 cc and wall thicknesses of 20-60 thousandths of an inch, according to the firm.

Central to the design of the new bottles is a moisture barrier developed by Ticona, the technical polymers unit of German chemicals company Celanese, which helps make the bottles the first clear, plastic alternative to Type 1 pharmaceutical glass. The Topas cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) offers low permeability to water vapour, as well as high transparency, clarity and chemical resistance.

"We spent 10 years developing and testing these bottles for pharmaceutical use,"​ said Bill Negrini, vice president and business manager of the healthcare unit at Owens-Illinois' plastic container division. He claimed that 'exceptional' interest is being seen from drug companies who are interested in differentiating their products in the marketplace by offering them in safer packaging.

Ticona noted that the location of the Topas COC barrier layer depends on the end use. It can be sandwiched between inner and outer layers of polycarbonate or polyethylene terephthalate when more durable bottles are needed. However, if impermeability to both water vapour and oxygen are needed, the polymer can be used for the external layers with an oxygen barrier material, such as nylon, between them.

Topas COC also has excellent biocompatibility, is low in extractables (chemical species that migrate from packaging components over time), meets US Pharmacopeia requirements and has Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Drug and Device Master Files, clearing the way for approval of products packaged in the new bottles. In addition, it has good chemical and heat resistance and is compatible with sterilisation processes.

For more information about Owens-Illinois' plastic containers range, visit the company's website​.