3-Phase Activ-Polymer™ Technology

Based on breakthrough science, Aptar CSP Technologies’ 3-Phase Activ-Polymer™ platform technology enables a new class of highly engineered polymer compounds that provide premier product protection for sensitive drug products, probiotics, medical devices, drug delivery systems, and even foods. The technology incorporates active chemistries to provide moisture control, gas scavenging (Oxygen, CO2, Ethylene, Formaldehyde, Nitrosamines, etc.), microbial pathogen reduction, and aroma reduction or emission.

Aptar CSP’s proprietary technology has the ability to incorporate single or multiple chemistries into a polymer solution that retains the performance of the chemistries while maintaining the physical properties of the polymer.

This offers tremendous manufacturing flexibility as the polymer can be extruded into a film, injection molded or blow molded, and even melted into a liquid-like compound with our newest innovation, Agilis™ technology.

Characteristics of Activ-Polymer™ technology:

  • A majority polymer that serves as the base component and provides structure for the final product
  • An active particle that provides the desired characteristics, such as absorption or adsorption of moisture, gasses or odors; release of aromas or antimicrobials; or transmittal to enhance the gas transmission rates of the polymer.
  • A minority polymer that is immiscible (non-mixing) in the majority polymer and has a chemical attraction for the active particle, creating pathways for complete access to the active particles.

This technology can manipulate the kinetics of adsorption, absorption or release of gasses through formulation, increasing or decreasing uptake rate and capacity to offer a customized solution that maximizes shelf life and product protection.

Technology Configurations

Activ-Film™ Material:

Applied via proprietary heat-staking process or with adhesive, Activ-Film™ material is available as a continuous roll of film or die cut. There are many ways to integrate the film into the product’s design, such as applying it to foil pouch packaging or integrating it into a medical device or diagnostic dipstick. The film can be formulated to adsorb moisture, scavenge oxygen, VOCs, etc., or combine  functionalities. Recent advancements in the film formulations enable pathogen reduction in the food sector, sterilization capabilities for medical devices, and nitrosamine prevention and elimination to address the latest concerns in oral solid dose drug development.

Activ-Blister™ Solutions:

Activ-Blister™ Solutions actively controls the internal atmosphere of individual blister cavities, without the use of purging, to for improve stability and extend shelf life. This innovative technology can be applied in line via heat staking, without the use of adhesives, and with existing blister designs, materials and equipment. Outfitted blisters can scavenge tailored amounts of moisture and/or gasses, including nitrosamines, and can be produced in shapes and sizes to accommodate any tablet and capsule size. The technology has been proven to provide superior protection for oral solid dose drugs compared to cold-form foil blister packaging, enabling visibility of the dose with a 40-60% smaller blister footprint.

Our new Rapid-Start Program offers a simple and cost-effective way to study the feasibility of implementing Activ-Blister™ Solutions for your oral solid dose drug. Click here to view more information about the Rapid-Start Program and get your samples in as little as 4 weeks.

Activ-Vial™ Portfolio:

CSP™ Activ-Vials and Activ-Bottles feature a 3-Phase Activ-Polymer™ sleeve that completely surrounds the product and scavenges moisture, ensuring greater product stability and potency over traditional desiccant packaging options such as standard bottles using a desiccant canister or sachet. With standard bottles, moisture continuously passes by the product en route to the scavenging canister or sachet. However, with Activ-Vial™ technology, tablets see virtually no moisture because it is trapped by the 3-Phase Activ-Polymer™ sleeve before entering the headspace. This is not only a superior solution for protecting sensitive products, but is also a safer one as there is no possibility the consumer will accidentally ingest a desiccant sachet or canister inside the bottle or vial. Our portfolio of active bottles and vials includes one-piece, flip-top vials as well as screw top bottles in a wide range of sizes. Tamper evident and child resistant features are available.

3-Phase Activ-Polymer™ Components:

Custom designed 3-Phase Activ-Polymer™ components solve complex product challenges in various environments, providing integrated product protection that enhances stability and extends shelf life by managing the environment surrounding your drug product. Our multi-shot molding capabilities enable us to combine multiple components and active chemistries into one part, reducing part count and complexity for manufacturing and assembly. These components often replace an existing part in the physical structure of the customer’s packaging or device, providing the part’s physical function while incorporating the desired chemistry’s performance. 3-Phase Activ-Polymer™ components are used in variety of applications, from inhalers and transdermal drug delivery devices to point-of-care diagnostic devices. Our solutions do not use environmentally damaging epoxies or polyurethane resins that can create chemical incompatibilities that complicate safe recycling and are compatible with traditional forms of sterilization (e.g. gamma radiation).

Pharmapuck™ and Activ-Tab™ Molded Tablets:

Pharmapuck™ and Activ-Tab™ molded tablets are a drop-in solution best suited to protecting the needs of oral solid dose drugs and diagnostic cassettes. The molded design eliminates risk of breakage, spillage, or dusting associated with desiccant sachets, canisters, and tablets, providing sustained moisture protection for the life of the product that is not possible with standard desiccant packaging solutions. Pharmapuck™ and Activ-Tab™ can be integrated into virtually any container and offers a moisture protection packaging solution as well as odor control and aroma release functionality. Visual branding options such as custom coloring, laser or ink printing are available to enhance consumer awareness and safety.