Neopac, a global provider of tube packaging for numerous industries and applications, will introduce a new eyecare solution at Booth W-875 at Healthcare Packaging EXPO in Chicago Oct. 14-17.
The SteriDrop™ tube is filled and sealed on sterile tube filling lines. It uses Neopac’s patented Polyfoil® technology, which previously has been employed for housing eye creams and eye gels. Combined with an ophthalmic squeeze dispenser from partner Aptar Pharma, the packaging concept now proves conducive to protecting preservative-free eyedrops from microbiological contamination before, during and after initial consumer use. SteriDrop tube can contain volumes up to 30mL, which can easily cover a three months’ supply of daily eye treatment.
Here’s how the SteriDrop tube works: The mechanical system releases a precisely measured drop when pressure is exerted on the tube, preventing the liquid from flowing back into the tube. That guarantees a level of microbiological safety previously unattainable. As a result, the product remains sterile over the entire period of application even without preservatives. Meanwhile, the Polyfoil tube’s barrier properties protect the product from light, air, water vapor diffusion and migration, further lending to critical content efficacy and overall product durability.
Preservatives in eyecare formulations, such as benzalkonium chloride (BAC), can lead to side effects with chronic use, prompting a push toward preservative-free products. Microbiologically tested and FDA approved, SteriDrop tube amounts to a pharma-grade solution that addresses the challenge of eyecare product protection and durability. The system comes with a wide selection of caps and flow rates to be customized according to the drop formulation. It also eliminates the need for preservatives and additives such as silver ions or surface coating, securing a metal-free product pathway for dispensing.
The slim, user-friendly SteriDrop tube sits comfortably in the user’s hand. Through the form-fitting sheath, the lateral weld is completely obscured, meaning the tube can be printed evenly all over with branding and instructions. Due to the special coating, the Polyfoil tube retains its shape until the last drop. It also allows the drops to be dispensed predictably, precisely and with little pressure applied to the tube. The multi-dose system saves packaging and product compared to single dose packages.
