cosmeceuticals
Medical Converting and Packaging for Transdermal Delivery of Cosmeceuticals, Nutraceuticals, and Aromatherapy
The market for cosmeceuticals, nutraceuticals, and aromatherapy is rapidly expanding as the ability to deliver these items using transdermal patches is further refined. From patches for anti-aging products, to essential oils for homeopathic remedies, to vitamins and nutrients for soldiers in the battlefield, transdermal patch technology has blossomed since the introduction of the first nicotine patches decades ago.
Cosmeceuticals, Nutraceuticals, and Aromatherapy Transdermal delivery became more popular in areas where design and manufacturing complexity and regulatory monitoring were less intense: cosmeceuticals, nutraceuticals, and aromatherapy.
Transdermal delivery technology is becoming popular for Cosmeceuticals cosmeceuticals, nutraceuticals, and aromatherapies. What are cosmeceuticals? Most often, a cosmeceutical delivers some active ingredient through the skin, while cosmetics are more “topical” in nature. Some industry experts would like to define them as products that don’t require a prescription, but are only available from professionals such as doctors, aestheticians, healthcare professionals, and technicians.
Today’s most popular cosmeceuticals include: • Teeth whiteners • Lip protection • Skincare, especially anti-aging products • Haircare • Scarless wound healing, or anti-scarring treatments
www.fabrico.com Backing
Nutraceuticals Drug/Adhesive Nutraceuticals can include everything from nutritional supplements to complete emergency nutritional delivery Release Liner systems for those without access to meals for a period of time, for example soldiers in the field, firefighters, miners, and astronauts.
Cleavage Load Dietary and nutritional supplements benefit from transdermal delivery: Drug-in-adhesive transdermal patch designs contain a liner, adhesive, and backing. • Instant and continuous delivery to the blood stream; • Time-release delivery; Types of Transdermal Patch Designs • Delivery of the optimal dosage strength; The basic functional requirements for any transdermal delivery • No breakdown in the harsh, acidic digestive system; system include adhesion to the skin, both the initial tack and • Convenient dosage. the duration, delivery of the drug, and eventual removal from the skin without causing unnecessary irritation. A transdermal Aromatherapy patch design will meet these basic functional requirements Aromatherapy has become increasingly popular for: using a custom combination of components. • Relaxation and stress relief; • Increased circulation to warm muscles; There are several types of transdermal patch designs: reservoir, • Mood enhancements. matrix, drug-in-adhesive (DIA), and multi-laminate DIA. Patch design must consider the properties of the drug, cosmeceutical, The use of a transdermal delivery patch can speed delivery nutraceutical, or aromatherapy, the desired delivery profile, and of essential oils, allow for greater effectiveness, as in the target patient group. applications where magnesium is delivered using a thermal patch, and deliver therapeutic benefits in conjunction with The reservoir type patch contains the drug solution in a liquid other homeopathic treatments. reservoir compartment, separated from a release liner by a semi-permeable membrane and an adhesive. The membrane Elements in Patch Designs controls the timed release of the liquid drug. Closely related, Transdermal patch designs contain a liner, formula/drug, the matrix design has a drug that is a semi-solid. In the matrix adhesive, membrane, and backing: design, there is no membrane layer. • Liner – protects the patch during storage and is removed prior to use; Drug-in-adhesive (DIA) systems add the drug directly to the • Formula – supplement, oil, or medication in direct contact adhesive that contacts the skin. DIA designs can be single with the liner; layer or multi-laminate designs that may add a membrane • Adhesive – keeps the components of the patch together, between two distinct DIA layers, or multiple DIA layers under keeps the patch adhered to the skin and, in new designs, a single backing. may include the formula/drug; • Membrane – in some designs, it controls the release of the formula/drug from the reservoir; • Backing – protects the patch from the environment. The Role of Adhesives in Transdermal Patches Selection of the correct adhesive for a transdermal patch is critical. It affects both drug delivery and the adhesion of the patch to the skin for the required time period and, ultimately, its easy and pain-free removal when the therapy is completed. The right adhesive will work with the formula/drug, the patient’s skin, and body movements that occur during normal wear. Custom formulations are often required to meet the specifics for a transdermal patch. Fabrico offers three Class 10,000 clean rooms, as well as ISO 13485 certification.
Acrylic, acrylic-rubber hybrids, polyisobutylene, and styrenic rubber solutions are used for their good adhesion and ability selected to protect the adhesive, which may contain the to control the rate at which the formula/drug enters the body. formulation, until application without interacting with other components in the design. Fabrico can also suggest the best New polymer adhesives are also being modified to improve packaging for the transdermal patch for shipment and storage solubility and drug diffusion while keeping favorable adhesive until use. and cohesive properties. These polymers include hydrophilic pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs) that can be applied wet Fabrico provides slitting, layering, laminating, precision and still provide good adhesion. Other types of polymer die-cutting, and packaging of the finished product. adhesives include synthetic polymers, such as poly acrylic acid The converting process might entail clean room production; (PAA) and poly methyl acrylate derivatives, as well as hyaluronic for example, Fabrico offers three Class 10,000 clean rooms acid and chitosan. Copolymerization of different polymers is in its facilities, as well as ISO 13485 certification. often used to achieve the correct balance of drug delivery, adhesion, and release properties. Fabrico can select from servo driven rotary die-cutting, CNC die-cutting, laser cutting, and water jet cutting to Putting the Package Together meet the complex specifications of medical components. with the Help of a Medical Converter For example, a servo driven rotary die-cutter can maintain tight Fabrico helps OEMs and contract manufacturers with everything tolerances ranging from 0.015” to +/-0.005” at speeds up to from initial patch design to selection of the appropriate adhesive 500 fpm, and is ideal for the complex, multi-layer die-cutting, formulation, materials for the backing and release liner, and lamination that a transdermal patch might require. laminating the materials and adhesives together, selecting the appropriate cutting technique, and assembling and kitting For complex foam tape converting, water jet technology the final transdermal patch product. provides clean edges with no distortion. Laser cutting, kiss-cutting, slitting, and laminating can also be used in The choice of backing materials influences the delivery profile, converting for medical and cosmeceutical applications. adhesion, and wearability. The backing might include the lamination of several layers of materials such as polyethylene and ethyl vinyl acetate. The backing protects and contains the drug/formulation, prevents the unwanted absorption of the drug before application, and controls the evaporation of moisture through the patch. The release liner must also be carefully About Fabrico Fabrico’s materials converting capabilities include: custom design solutions for applications that require slitting, laminating, and die-cutting. Laser cutting, kiss-cutting, and water jet cutting are available depending on the application and materials being used.
With more than 30 years of materials experience, Fabrico engineers also understand the impact of material selection on the overall manufacturing process, and design material systems that optimize production efficiency and improve Fabrico has a fully-equipped in-house test lab to ensure that materials and adhesives meet design specifications. overall cost-effectiveness.
Fabrico has a fully equipped test laboratory to ensure that Material Partners customer materials meet designed-in specifications before they Fabrico has strategic relationships with world-class materials move to the factory floor, often eliminating the need to test and adhesives suppliers, such as 3M, Adhesives Research, materials at the customer’s facility. The test lab offers: Dow Chemical, NuSil Technology, Polymer Technology Corporation, • Accurate and precise part dimension measurement and Saint-Gobain. Fabrico helps its customers in selecting and verification; the best materials and adhesives for the application. Fabrico’s • Adhesive/release liner testing to determine converting extensive network of suppliers helps expedite materials and properties and high speed application characteristics; adhesives sourcing. All critical material and adhesive properties • Material strength measurement to ensure that material are considered in any Fabrico project. meets application requirements; • Static shear testing to measure the cohesive strength of the adhesive to withstand a fixed load over time; • Material weight measurement to determine adhesive coating weight; • Microscopic imaging to determine differences between adhesive and material over time.
Fabrico Headquarters 4175 Royal Drive, Suite 800, Kennesaw, GA 30144 Phone : 678-202-2700 | Fax : 678-202-2702 www.fabrico.com Toll Free : 800-351-8273 | E-mail : [email protected] Fabrico is a trademark of EIS, Inc.; 3M is a trademark of the 3M Company. Loctite is a Registered Trademark of Henkel AG & Co. KGaA.