Citation: Baczewski J, “Flexible Inspection of Prefilled Syringes”. ONdrugDelivery Magazine, Issue 61 (Oct 2015), pp 35-37.
Joachim Baczewski describes how leading equipment manufacturers such as Bosch Packaging enable pharma companies to achieve target product quality with flexible processes.
Due to an increase of chronic diseases such as diabetes and cancer, a rising number of patients require injectable drugs for self-administration. Prefilled syringes enable highly accurate dosing and decrease the exposure to potent products while, at the same time, they significantly reduce the danger of dosing errors and contribute to overall patient safety. As a result, the market for prefilled syringes is set for further growth. According to a recent market report,1 worldwide production of prefilled syringes will almost double again by 2020.
TARGETING THE HIGHEST QUALITY STANDARDS
Since any container defect or change in the drugs’ structure poses a serious threat to patient safety and product quality, both prefilled syringes and medicines necessitate thorough inspection. Subsequently, pharmaceutical manufacturers require sophisticated and versatile inspection technologies to meet the highest quality levels at all times. These technologies are used either for the detection of product-related contamination, container defects, leakages or all of them.
Product contamination implies the undesired introduction of impurities of a chemical or microbiological nature, or of foreign matter into or onto a raw material, intermediate, or API during production, sampling, packaging, storage or transport.2 Cosmetic container defects, on the other hand, can occur during handling, either by human intervention or by incorrectly set-up machinery. Leakages of containers or closures might entail microbial ingress and reduced shelf life. To ensure that no contaminated products can enter the market and reach the patient, highly accurate inspection is required.
Inspection technologies range from manual and semi-automated through to fully automated, high-speed machines. When performing manual inspection, each syringe is inspected with fluorescent light against a black and white background. As manual systems remain subject to human errors and do not offer the speed required for larger batches, they are mainly used for customised applications and stability surveys. Semi-automated inspection systems can achieve more accuracy and reduce the need for manual handling. Automatic feeding, sorting and discharging functions enable inspectors to focus entirely on the quality control of prefilled syringes.
AUTOMATED INSPECTION FOR FAST, HIGHLY ACCURATE RESULTS
Figure 1: For 40 years, the SD technology keeps improving to meet the most challenging customers’ requirements.
Automated particle inspection systems have their origins in the 1970s. One of the original automated inspection principles is the Static Division (SD) system, which was developed by Eisai Machinery (now part of Bosch Packaging Technology). The SD (Figure 1) system derives its name from the ability to differentiate static from moving objects. It transmits light through the solution within the container onto an optical SD sensor. The prefilled syringe is rotated and then suddenly stopped and the liquid continues to rotate in the immobile container. Foreign particles moving inside the liquid block a portion of the transmitted light and cast a shadow, which is detected by the SD sensor.
Figure 2: Inspection system with LED lighting.
Automated camera-based systems are used for both particle and cosmetic inspection and are either based on complementary metal oxide semiconductors (CMOS) or on charge coupled device (CCD) sensor technology, and are used in area or line scan cameras. Combined with specially designed optics and lighting such as LED (Figure 2), camera-based systems also ensure highly accurate inspection of product defects such as particles stuck to the sidewall, fill levels and product color, as well as container flaws such as cracks in syringe flanges. The latest CMOS-based systems even identify particles inside medium to highly viscous products, oils and suspensions. During rotation, the cameras take a sequence of images. These images are compared and analysed via sophisticated algorithms. The system identifies target defects while ensuring a low false reject rate. Product-specific parameters determine whether the syringe is rejected or accepted.
POWERFUL COMBINATIONS
Figure 3: The AIM 8000 series is the most versatile inspection platform allowing rapid customisation to each customer’s requirement.
The fully automated inspection series AIM 8000 (Figure 3) aims at high detection rates, even for suspensions and viscous products, and detects particles floating inside the liquid or sticking to the syringe’s plunger stopper. A combination of transmitted and reflected light furthermore enables manufacturers to simultaneously detect light and dark colored particles on the same inspection station, thus leading to significant space savings compared to the usage of two separate stations for each of the inspection methods. The latest pre-spin technology caters to the special inspection requirements of prefilled syringes by removing bubbles from the plunger stopper at elevated speeds. Moreover, the machine allows cosmetic inspection of a large number of syringe items, such as the needle shield, shoulder, or flange.
To meet the industry’s rapidly changing requirements further, the AIM 8000 series offers a hybrid approach by integrating both SD and camera-based inspection technology in one flexible platform. This enables pharmaceutical manufacturers to adapt their inspection processes to their individual production and product needs beyond the conventional scope. Next to prefilled syringes, this equipment is also designed for the inspection of other containers such as vials, ampoules and cartridges, offering flexibility to manufacturers. The modular design facilitates the expansion of existing systems by integrating additional inspection units or adding an extra inspection module. In addition, Container Closure Integrity (CCI) testing via high-voltage leak detection or headspace analysis can be integrated into the AIM 8000 platform on request.
“CCI methods allow pharmaceutical manufacturers to detect sterility breaches prior to product contamination, and prove to be less time-consuming than most commonly used sterility testing methods…”
CCI has steadily moved up the agenda in recent years.3 Studies show that prefilled syringes are also prone to CCI defects, which might be even more hazardous than particles when they lead to a change in the API. CCI methods allow pharmaceutical manufacturers to detect sterility breaches prior to product contamination, and prove to be less time-consuming than most commonly used sterility testing methods. Stateof-the art inspection platforms are able to incorporate tailored CCI testing systems for prefilled syringes. For instance, highvoltage leak detection (HVLD) measures the electrical resistance of the syringes with conductive solutions. Headspace analysis (HSA) measures the quantity of light passing through the headspace region via laser spectroscopy, and is applicable to lyophilised products and medicines filled under vacuum or purged with gas. Vacuum leak detection (VLD), in turn, measures vacuum or pressure decay in a dedicated chamber.
CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE EFFECTIVE USE OF INSPECTION EQUIPMENT
Utilising state-of-the-art technologies starts by thoroughly testing the inspection methods with product samples before choosing the equipment. After the installation of the equipment, operator qualification and training, as well as regular maintenance of the equipment by competent service personnel, is required. Retrofitting additional inspection equipment and adapting it to new products and/or inspection requirements, as well as complete system modernisations should also be considered as key factors for the selection of the ideal inspection equipment.
The above is especially true for the inspection of prefilled syringes with their various inspection criteria and steps. Assuring the highest quality and lowest false-reject rates throughout the lifespan of this machinery will not only bring quality benefits to patients but also economical benefits to pharmaceutical producers.
Paying close attention to the requirements for prefilled syringes, Bosch offers an extensive portfolio of dedicated inspection equipment ranging from manual to fully automated high-speed systems. A special focus is set on the combination of different technologies for particle and cosmetic inspection, as well as CCI. As a competent partner to the industry, Bosch also supports pharmaceutical producers in improving their entire production process, for instance by integrating inspection equipment into complex production and packaging lines. Highly qualified scientists and engineers at Bosch ensure that Bosch is the ideal partner for all inspection requirements, including the rapidly expanding market for prefilled syringes.
REFERENCES
- Smithers Rapra, “The Future of Alliances and Partnerships in the Pre-Filled Syringes Market to 2020”, cited August 12, 2015. (www.smithersrapra.com/products/market-reports/the-future-of-alliances-and-partnerships-in-the-pr)
- www.gmp-publishing.com/en/glossar.html
- Akers MJ, “Sterile Drug Products: Formulation, Packaging, Manufacturing and Quality”, 2010, p. 455.