Originally Published PMPN
September 2004
NEWS
Study Touts Advantages of Medical FilmA recent Chinese study showed the effectiveness of a medical film from Cryovac Div., Sealed Air Corp. (Duncan, SC). The sterilizable film, M312 (polyolefin), was proven to protect certain medications.
Li Dakui conducted the study in the pharmaceuticals department laboratory at Beijing Concord Hospital. Dakui is pharmacy department director at Peking Union Medical College Hospital and a council member of the China Pharmaceutical Association. He is also deputy editor-in-chief of China Pharmacology Journal and China Pharmacy Journal.
Dakui tested the absorption of 15 medications commonly administered with three types of IV containers. Previous studies showed the loss of certain drugs from aqueous solutions stored in plastic infusion bags. The losses, caused by interactions between drug and plastic, resulted in reduced drug delivery or diminished therapeutic effect.
Dakui studied cefotaxime sodium, cefradine, ceftriaxone sodium, cyclophosphamide, diazepam, fluorouracil, insulin, isosorbide dinitrate, lidocaine HCL, methotrexate, metronidazole disodium phosphate, nitroglycerin, omeprazole sodium, paclitaxel, and sanjiu xiangdan.
He added each drug to 0.9% sodium chloride or 5% glucose. The drugs were stored in plasticized PVC bags, glass bottles, or bags made of the Cryovac film. Dakui then used high-performance liquid chromatography to test drug concentration.
Some of Dakui’s findings:
• Five drugs lost potency when stored in plasticized PVC bags.
• Two drugs lost potency when packaged in glass bottles.
• Insignificant losses (within 1%) in all of the drugs occurred when packaged in Cryovac M312.
• Insulin, diazepam injection, and paclitaxel concentrations in the M312 bag or glass bottle decreased slightly or remained unchanged.
• Insosorbide dinitrate injection and nitroglycerin concentrations in the glass bottle decreased significantly.
Cryovac specializes in flexible, high-barrier polyolefin medical films for ostomy applications. M312 film is a durable, thin film. It is also resistant to temperature extremes in storage and distribution. It can be used in selected container applications requiring frangible or weak seal capabilities.
Copyright ©2004 Pharmaceutical & Medical Packaging News
